Please can someone help me?

I have a Canon DC230 camcorder and have only used it a few times since I bought it new a few years ago.

It's been working fine up until a few days ago, now when I record a video and play it back I can hear a kind of ticking/clicking sound and is really annoying!
It sounds like it could be that the microphone has picked up the sound of the disc rotating when I'm recording, and yet I can hardly hear it myself while recording.

I don't understand why this has suddenly started to happen, I've never had a problem with it before.
Previously recorded material still plays fine with no clicking noise on the audio track. I've tried using different discs but the problem remains the same.

The camcorder hasn't been dropped or knocked and has been safely tucked away in a drawer since the last time I used it 2 weeks ago when it worked perfectly without the annoying clicking sound on playback.

I would greatly appreciate it if someone could tell me what the reason for this is.

I have used a DVD lens cleaner disc and it's not made any difference.

TIA

Gill