I've had a problem with this set for a few months now and I need some advise before I start messing around with it.

There is a small 'patch' in the middle of the screen that appears as a bluish purple blotch when the background scene is muted, say the grey of a race track when watching F1. Black and white material shows the fault off even better, against a pure white background the blotch is a slightly yellow colour.

It may be dust particles on one or other of the lcd panels, or the lens assembly, but I'm not too sure. If it was a CRT TV I'd say the screen needs degaussing but obviously not in this case.

Any ideas?

[LV426]

I used to have the 37 inch version of this set. After some months' use, the entire LCD projection assembly was replaced under warranty for reasons I won't bore you with. After this, the set was fine until I installed a new lamp. Shortly afterwards, I began to notice the exact effect you describe, exactly in the centre of the screen.

I firmly believe that this is a symptom of heat damage to the LCD panels. There is no setting or option in the factory menu you can use to fix it, and I don't believe that cleaning will help.

Not good news, I'm afraid. If it's under warranty, get it seen to by a Sony dealer.

If not, then, if I'm right, the cure will be expensive. I suggest that you write, in polite and unemotional "please can you help me" terms to Sony. If you can take a photograph to illustrate the severity of the problem, send it. With luck, they may be sympathetic.