Electra won't heat up?

I recently acquired an Electra 37290 drier. It worked fine the first couple of times I used it, but now it doesn't heat up. Everything else seems to be alright. The filter has not been cleaned since I got it and I wondered if that could affect the heating but I thought probably not and I don't know how to remove/clean the filter. Please can you help a desperate mother of 3 with no dry days in Scotland to dry clothes? Thanks