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Many thanks for your great answers, although road crossing has to be 5 letters. Perhaps I am on the wrong track totally with the animal down and it isn't cheetah or meerkat. It is a 7 letter word animal. Sad as I am,I 've even cut out the 7 x 7 grid and tried moving the letters to fit into them! Sheer desperation as so near and yet so far.
any other words for 5. 'warmer' Cockney? think it's hotter which rhymes with otter... but may be wrong.
Thanks all for your help. Quizstruck