DYSON domestic appliances are among the most unreliable on the market, a new survey shows.

More than a quarter 29 per cent of Dyson's upright vacuum cleaners needed repairing within six years of purchase, the Which? report said.

And two-thirds of the manufacturer's washing machines needed repairing within three years.

A Dyson spokeswoman said: "We're puzzled by the recent Which? report. We closely monitor the reliability of Dyson machines and our best-selling machine, DC14, has a reliability rate of 98 per cent (the two per cent of failures are missing manuals or tools).

"Our biggest retailer, Currys, confirms that reliability rates for Dyson machines are very high.

"People are three times more likely to be loyal to Dyson than any other vacuum cleaner manufacturer, including second-placed Miele.

"Dyson machines are tested to the point of destruction. This year we'll invest £50 million in research and development reliability and durability are key to this."

Hoover came out worst in the consumer magazine's annual survey in which 14,296 people took part.

Its fridge-freezers, driers and washing machines were deemed below-average for reliability.

About one third of the manufacturer's washing machines needed repairing within six years of purchase, while 42 per cent of its washer-driers needed fixing within the same period.

Nearly a quarter 24 per cent- of Hoover tumble driers had gone wrong within six years, according to the survey.The manufacturer's goods were among those which owners were least likely to recommend to a friend.

Bosch and Miele were the brands whose appliances were least likely to break down and the ones owners were most likely to recommend.

Malcolm Coles, the editor of Which?, said: "Bosch and Miele are brands you can trust and they're not going to leave you with dishwashers full of dirty dishes or vacs that won't suck.

"On the other hand, you can't rely on Dyson and Hoover to be reliable."

Tamsin Davis