Zanussi Aquacycle 1000 fault?

I have a zanussi aquacycle 1000,
when starting the valve opens and allows water in approx 1.5 inches in the bottom of the drum then goes no further.
If I reset the program when in this state without draining it it opens and closes the valve immediately then goes no further.
if i drain it then start again it fills to the same level then goes no further.
I f drain and reset everything and skip straight through to the wash cycle it fills half way up the drum and goes no further.
I've tried swapping to a hot water feed in case it wasn't making temp but this has no difference.
I'm unsure of the sequencing of what exactly should happen directly after first fill so that I can pinpoint what the issue is.
I've had a quick look at the brushes with a torch to see if the problem is there, the one I can see looked fine but I'm just about to go back and remove them for inspection just in case.

any ideas would be welcome.
thanks
Neil