Hellp Paul,
If you are thinking about doing the job yourself take my advice and don't, I was an engineer for Hotpoint years ago and I can change bearing on any model, on that model you will virtually have to strip the machine down and trust me if you don't screw the plastic outer drum together properly you will certainly get a leak which means a stripdown again, bearing are only about £35.00 but be warned, the cost of an engineer will far outway the price of a new machine, have a serious think.
Ken
Ken Dourof
August 2007