After just a year after buying, the ultra sonic auto focusing stopped, she's heavy and fiddly to use with manual focus. Has anyone any advice please.

[bertwert]

Unfortunately, the 60-250 is the one lens in which there is no reliable conversion to screwdrive (as can be done with other failed SDM lenses). So, you could opt to have it repaired...
Also, there are a lot of posts on this forum on this topic (try searching "SDM failure") and some little tips can be found that sometimes help the lens regain focusing (such as holding the focus button for several seconds, then releasing and repeating several times, which can occasionally help the SDM 'reawaken').
Also, double (or triple) check that the camera is in AF and the lens is in AF mode.

[UncleVanya]

Reach out to your authorized repair center... That's my 2 cents. This is the one lens of the da* lenses that have screw drive and sdm that hasn't been figured out. Conversion methods that worked on all the others fail. Sorry.

Thanks for replies, Pulled the camera out this morning, charge the batteries and fiddling with all the buttons and cleaning all contacts and still no joy. A little flustered when only taken 100 shots or so.GGrrr :}

[WorksAsIntended]

It is a shame Ricoh does not acknowledge this and keep selling the lens without offering free or at least very cheap repair.

[Ray Cox]

It does not indicate which camera body that you are using. Not the same same lens, but a similar issue. I have both a K3 and K1. With the K3 my favorite lens is the Pentax-DA* 50-135mm which I used previously on a K5. The auto focus on this lens stopped working. I tried everything that I could think of to get it to work. I subsequently set it aside for about a year, not wanting to convert it to screw drive. While working on a still life I mounted the lens to the K1 and chose to use live view. Within a couple of seconds of live view use it came to life and auto focus worked correctly! That after a year of inaction. Since then it will work perfectly if I first mount it on the K1 and activate the live view, and continues to work flawlessly on the K3 until it has not been used for a couple of days. I also own the Pentax-DA*60-250 that I use extensively and have modified the baffle for use on the K1. A great lens. I hope you find a solution to your problem and get to use that lens frequently.