Cryptic Crossword.

[ralphwalker]

Can anyone help me with these, please.

""What damaged the siren at the plant?" (*)
I have ?A?t???N

"They hum you notice when upset" (4)

I only have ?O?? (I think the last letter is S, but why is the answer "SOBS" in that case?

"Run fast in an attempt to catch the ball (5)

I have ?H??? It might be "chase" but why?

All the best for 2006, everyone.

[beerbelly]

first one is HAWTHORN ( anagram of what & horn )siren = horn

[beerbelly]

run fast is SHOOT
an attempt is a SHOT , with ball ( O ) inside

[beerbelly]

they hum is TOPS
as in humming tops
you notice is spot , which is tops backwards

[Dinkypuzzled]

Spinning tops hum and TOPS is an anagram of spot (notice).

[ralphwalker]

Thank you very much Beerbelly and Dinkypuzzled. I think that "Hawthorn" is a bit far fetched but very clever of you to have got it.

All thebest for 2006