during a quick 40 minute wash cycle there was smoke within the drum, and i checked the back of the washing machine to see if the belt had got burnt out. There seems to be a heating element under the drum but i cannot access it to see if this was at fault, so i would be delighted if anyone may inform me what the smoke may have been?

steve marks, November 2009

Washing machine + smoke is never a good combination. It sounds like you heating element has blown. But from your description of the event something seems distinctly out of place. Get a qualified technician to look at it, messing around with faulty electrical appliances can cost you more than money.

Mike, November 2009