Hi Kay, i have been further looking for info on my own and have found a good website which has posts on of people having fixed their machines and what to do.
I rang hotpoint and they told me that only an engineer could fix the problem, however, i have found information of a guy who has had similar experience with the instructions as to fix it.
It may be worth a go.
www.DIYnot.com
Lynne.x., January 2009