Daily Mail

[retrocop]

stuck on last clue.Please help.
22A. Bear very softly rounds bend (3) I have P?P. All vowels replacing the missing letter would make a word,but,I can't see any of those words fit the clue!!

[albaqwerty]

pup (u bend maybe?)
probably not though.

[dannyk13]

Pup is the only word that fits the clue,but can't parse it

[retrocop]

May be I got up too early this a.m..Still can't see how Pup fits the clue.You could have Pap,Pep,Pip and Pop also but what fits the clue?

[dannyk13]

U is the only letter that fits the bend part of the clue.

[bibblebub]

bear is given here http://www.tfd.com/pup as a synonym for pup, as in giving birth

[dannyk13]

Bibble to the rescue again.

[retrocop]

Thankyou all very much for your input.I think bibblebub has successfully put this one to bed at last.