stuck washing machine door

[alanmag]

Help! the door won't open. Cycle has finished, tried with and without power and doing several new cycles, but it refuses to "click" and open.

My wife's favorite sheets are inside going smelly. What can I do to get the door open please?

 

[bathjobby]

Doors won't open for around 2 to 3 minutes after spinning.

 

[big-all]

my old washing machine the door release packed up removed the top followed the cable down and opend from the top i just attacked a bit of sturdy wire to the mechanism drilled a hole in the top fixed a handle
so all you had to do was pull the handle to release
of course all machines are different so it migh help the brainy lads if you give full details[make model no ect]