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It is LING, ling(3) in Chambers being given as a Scots form of 'line'. The second definition of LING is in 21d - 'Heather', ie ling(2).

Many thanks Spoffy

Well done Jonathan Crowther. I thought I would never get to the end of this one but I may have if somebody could confirm that the top of 24d mates with the second half of 9a and the top half of 7d mates with the bottom half of 24d.

I can indeed confirm those relationships.

15d Contra behind start of attack on US troops? (4)
I have AGIN for Contra and AGIS for the entry but what is the third element?

5d Fold edible wee seabird – champagne served up? (4)
I have RUCK and GUGA to give GURU as a possible entry but what has champagne got to do with this?


Please enlighten me.

Unless ARIS is behind in 15d?

Yes, Cockney slang for bum.

GUGA and LIRK, entry is KRUG reversed.

Bananabean, in 5d you have the wrong last letter. "Champagne" served "up" is a well-known brand of the fizz entered upside down. That gives you the first part of 5d to go with the bottom half of either 3d or 6d for the "edible wee seabird" ; and the bottom two letters of 5d go with the first two letters of 25a to make an obscure word for "line" or "wrinkle".

Nearly all the words are used twice but not LINE from 25a and RUCK from 5d as far as I can see. I am puzzled by this and suspect I have made a mistake.