My Hotpoint Washer Dryer (WD440G) trips the electrics, any help?

I had my washer dryer on final spin when the electrics went off in the house. I'm not sure if we had a power cut while the machine was on or whether the machine caused the electrics to trip in the house. Everytime i try to start a cycle the machine trips the electrics but if you cancel the cycle before it starts and the machine is just turned on then the electrics in the house are ok. It only trips the electrics when it is about to start a cycle? Any ideas and help would be great! Thanks.