Suzanne,

I'm getting into this now, and am wondering if you researched washer
dryers with these functions? If it truly works, I can add in around £400
per year in ironing service costs, on top of the cost of a normal washer
dryer of about £325.

I've been to the usual suspects, Comet, Currys, Powerhouse (New), and
cant find one, or cant find anything which suggests it has the sensor
and keep turning facility.

I wonder if they dont make them yet?

Which's 2002 report on dryers - nothing on washer dryers
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Tumble Driers, Buying Guide
There are few differences in how quickly tumble driers dry loads, regardless
of price or brand. However, there are big differences in how well designed
they are for everyday use. So our Best Buy is a cheap, easy to use, sensor
drier.
Is it a condenser or air-vented drier?
The biggest headache with tumble driers is venting them. Condenser driers
condense the hot, damp air produced while drying into the water that
collects in a built-in tray. This means that they can be placed anywhere
around the house, whereas air-vented driers must be near a window or door
for ventilation - if they're not, you'll have to fit a vent through a wall.
Should I consider a gas drier?
Running costs for gas models (made by White Knight) are around three times
cheaper per load than electric ones. You will need to pay an upfront fee of
around £50 for installation, and also have regular check-ups by a
Corgi-registered gas fitter.
Will it fit the space available?
If space is tight, you could consider a compact model. These typically hold
around 3kg of laundry, instead of the 5 or 6kg you can fit in a full-sized
one. They're usually around 18cm shorter and 10cm smaller in width and
depth, but they tend to take longer and cost relatively more per load than
full-sized ones.
How easy is it to use?
Tumble driers are fairly simple appliances, but some dry automatically
(sensor models), and some use a manual timer. Both are straight-forward to
use, but it's worth being able to override the sensor to give laundry an
extra ten-minute burst. Check the door, filter and water tray aren't awkward
to use. Water trays can be awkward to remove and replace - and you may need
to empty the tray after every load.
Can it be used with a timer?
If you live in an area where you can take advantage of cheap-rate
electricity, and don't mind using your drier at night, then a built-in timer
makes doing this a doddle. If a model doesn't have one, check that it can be
used with a plug-in timer switch, as models with a 'start' button may
prevent you from doing this.
Reliable brands
Crusader, Creda Jackson