Behind the panel at the bottom front right is the filter. When this clogs (usually with a coin/thread etc) the machine stopped on us. We learned this the hard way and when I opened it by twisting anticlockwise - the machine started to empty all over the kitchen floor. Anyway this cleared the problem and we've had many a happy wash since, until the hadle broke off!
howtomendit.com for free repair help, information and advice.
Try fixfault.com to fix washing machines.