If it's an indesit, this indicates the pressure switch is jammed.
You can drain the water by removing the front fascia at the bottom of your machine, and unscrewing (slowly) the knob - you'll need a tray to collect the water (there will be a lot), and a towel or two.
If you/a friend who knows a bit about washing machines can find the switch and order a replacement (£16 from espares), that might solve the problem. £90 for a service engineer callout charge, so think carefully before you do this option!
Goodluck
Brian, June 2010
