I have solved my problem .. I hope.
As explained above I picked up the washing machine leak (after an earlier attempt by another to locate the leak and clean the filter).
I assumed that the rubber seal (which was wrapped around the flange in the inner filter assembly) was in the correct...
I'm trying to fix my daughter's Zanussi washing machine .. FLA1001W .. 5 years old.
Original symptom .. water starting to leak onto floor a few seconds after drum starts filling.
I inspected the machine today and found that the hose at back of soap dispenser had come loose (compression...