Can I drive my car with DPF flashing

[ajdriver84]

I haven't been on here in ages, so apologies for asking for some advice without contributing for the past few years.

Yesterday evening my Mazda 6 2.2d Sport 185 (2009) made a quiet beep then about a mile later, the DPF light started flashing. The handbook states its because the particle filter needs attention. I find this strange as it never had a constant DPF light which suggests you drive at 2,000 revs for 20 mins to clear it. Also, it is NOT in limp mode and performance seems normal. So I'm thinking it could just be telling me my service is due? It would be due about now but I had it done when I bout the car 5 months ago by an independent.
Is there easy way to tell if its a service reminder or the expensive diesel particle filter fault?

cheers

Alan

[ajdriver84]

Thanks for the advice. Turns out it was "service due" warning. Its done 76k and should have had a major service at 75k,but I changed the oil, oil filter etc when I bought it 6 months ago.

thanks