Colossus 223 Stinker (UK July)

81d: agave fibre....................would suggest ISTLE
286a:needles........................maybe AWNS

Good Luck

Thank you, l looked as ISTLE but the explanation l got was not exactlt fitting to the clue, and as for AWNS, l do not think it fits as the clues and asnwers down are 245 IDEOGRAM, 265 ALLUDE and 287 MISSED,leaving me with A>UM. l will keep on looking, thank you again :->

I'm just guessing as I don't have the puzzle:

If you use the alternate spelling of istle, Ixtle, then you can probably can have axes for needles as in the verb...

Hi margsy had 70a TAIPAN (50d COTILLION)
81d ISTLE
286a ALUM
Good luck sandray

Thank you,but whilst checking it out my computer crashed so l will come back to you later,

See my reply to Francis

lm back,son sorted it out, looking at the clues again ,l find my mind and also my common sense has done the dirty on me again, too much sun lol. The clue to 286a Common mordant (A>UM),sorry again to confuse everybody,will have to give the crosswords a few days rest to get my brain back where it should be,thank you for your help and patience >:->