I've had the pleasure of sorting a mine (hotpoint washer / dryer) this week and this is what I did.(same problem as yours, wouldn't pump out water and kept spinning) On the front at the bottom ( you may have to remove a plastic trim or skirt if it's built in).
Simply remove by turning (have a load of towels at the ready) and twist off. You will get the whole drum of water out here. Depending on what model you have try and remove any lint or just general cr*p you find in the filter. On ours there is a pipe running from the washer into the pump and it's hard to get to. What I used was a length of net curtain wire, with hook and just keep fishing out anything blocking the machine. I have children and I don't know how, but I've found coins, hair clips, marbles and a small car. Other than that, I am not sure.
Good Luck Anyway