Hi Kc
Sorry to abandon you yesterday . I answered your thread while I was at work and was called away, mid-stream so to speak. I didn't realise that the 2nd clue adjoined with the first but gave me a start when I returned home.
I attempt the Leicester Mercury cryptic every day, most days can be completed in approx 12-15 minutes (my target). Last nights edition proved to be a tough one.
wombat