(5) 14. A number from north-east England (3) 15. Weight revealed on cue originally (5) 17. Time to include an American lawyer's saying (5) 20.

Christmas decoration left in sacred surroundings (5) 21. Looked at the old retired journalist (4) 23. Seasonal musician finding a ladybird, perhaps (5,6) 24. Pantomime character made to change (4) 26. Reckless learner in a difficult situation (5) 27. Both sides hiding the day before a wild party (5) 28. A German song was deceptive (4) 29. Plans for money (5) 30 and 9 Down. Steal from popular gangster character in pantomime (5,4) 31. Remaining above (4) 32 and 59 Down. Early Christmas visitors in news item here, perhaps (5,4,3) 37.

The old way to keep a raising agent (5) 39. Raunchier broadcast creates a storm (9) 42. Councillor is parking to get a snack (5) 43. Sign name, having returned for Christmas (4) 44. Where 32 Across and 59 Down went for banquet without starter (4) 45. Lamps put out for a sacred song (5) 48. Jovial, if Steve is involved (7) 52. One seen in team outfits rejected strong liquor (7) 53. A publication - one showing 32 Across and 59 Down(4) 55. Eccentric Christmas communication (4) 57. Refer to soldiers not returning without one (7) 60. Make a mistake in retiring with a drink (6) 62. Pleas to move vaults (5) 63. Lizard free again around university (6) 65. Travel towards Kent to collect old bird (5) 67. Barbara embraced Oriental infants (5) 68. A soldier rejected a card game in this frozen dwelling (5) 69. Madman supplying a shell? (7) 70. Severe pain seen in alien country (5) 72. Diana designed a water-nymph (5) 73. Engineers interrupted mother's reverie (5) 75. Brandy may be in this preserve (6) 77. View first seen in the borders of Virginia (5) 78. Cinders produced by politicians needing no introduction (6) 83. Popular church feature creating stir (7) 84. Mentioned suitable food (4) 85. Ten volunteers to be a Greek character (4) 87. Score and go out with a Dickens character (7) 88.

Unsophisticated, being without paintings? (7) 90. One occupying a seat in Bulgaria (5) 91. Almost burn Carol (4) 92. A medal from Kings? (4) 94. Change the law to include a woman (5) 95. Characters in Bern carry fruit (9) 99. They may ring at Christmas (5) 102. See 120 Across 104. The French politician's light (4) 105. Tease one about to return a cheroot (5) 106. Award for unusually large vehicle (5) 107. Talk idly about a long story (4) 108. See 122Across 110. Jolly drunk (5) 111. Sea bird from Inverness (4) 113. Superior Christmas dessert? (4,7) 114. Exercise likewise needed money from abroad (4) 115. Embrace Penny after lesson is cut short (5) 117. French article expected to be improper (5) 119. Youth leader in lake finds an eagle's nest (5) 120.

102, and 74 Down. The earliest Christmas carol? (3,5,6) 121. Remove article in Gaelic (5) 122. and 108. Pantomime character whose twin is funny (4,5) 123.

Groups making jewellery (5) 124. Cruel people caught by dog rescuers (5) 125.

Desire is concealed by heartless wretch (4) DOWN 2. Reindeer in awful hold-up by river (7) 3. Sack and shoot (3) 4. Son was first to find winter transport 5. Zara then arranged to find a town in Israel (8) 6. Saint's Day banquet (5) 8. You will reportedly diet specially for Christmas (8) 9. See 30 Across 10.

Look around Egypt initially for a sign (3) 11. The waves make your hair curl! (7) 13. Provoke a pointer (6) 16. Shout about the woman providing fruit (6) 18. A girl heard one of Santa's reindeer (6) 19. Note received by a woman supplying mohair (6) 22. Number of pipers in a team (6) 25. The coming season? (6) 33. Dried fruit from Ankara is insufficient (7) 34. Elite male is beneath disorganised race (5) 35. Ability to make a donation (4) 36. Stand by daughter with facial growth (5) 38. and 46 Down, Confused Mary again with a new carol (4,2,1,6) 40. It's not suitable when out of shape (5) 41. Female relative taking note in a French city (5) 42. One of 32 Across and 59 Downabout to appear with a box (6) 46. See 38 Down 47. Outstanding feature (4) 49. Listing then changing a carol (6,5) 50. Disturbed Peter in area where partridge may be found (2,1,4,4) 51. Workers taking superior food on offer (4) 54. Join a companion (9) 56. Ruddy animal has eaten river bird (9) 58. Beg son in trouble to admit unknown past offences (7) 59. See 32 Across 61. Reportedly fed a number of maids (5) 64. Drink containing very soft fruit (5) 66. Close object (3) 67. Teacher's plot? (3) 71. They may be dancing on the ninth day (6) 74.

See 120 Across 75. Friend of 122 and 108 Across is retiring (7) 76. Biting a pastry (4) 79. A dollar for a male (4) 80. Overwhelm son and parent (7) 81.

Fuss about a step (5) 82. Someone close? (5) 84. and 114. Christmas pastries many ordered in pieces (5,4) 86 Trouble with sailors below deck (5) 89. Look over notes showing part of the ear (4) 91. Church address? (6) 93. Harm a titled woman carrying silver (6) 95. Youngster cut fish for refrigerating (8) 96. Frightens a man with weapons (6) 97. About to appear on television channel live (6) 98. Longing for a year in employment (8) 100. He once worried about a student's level (7) 101. Shelter accepted by agent friend of 122 and 108 Across(6) 102. Well-known female with a tailless rodent (6) 103. Vegetables for king involved in talks (7) 109. Drink overturned on heartless hockey forward (5) 112. Continually run after the First Lady (4) 114. See 84 Down 116. Use a needle in this manner, say (3) 118. Tyneside woman's first novel (3) QUICK ACROSS 1. Child's bed (4) 4. Seven --- a-swimming(5) 7. One of the gifts from 32 Across and 59 Down(5) 10. Peer (4) 12. Cherub (5) 14. --- lords a-leaping (3) 15. Small unit of weight (5) 17. Saying (5) 20. The --- and the Ivy(5) 21. Ogled (4) 23. Christmas vocalist (5,6) 24. Pantomime character (4) 26. Sightless (5) 27. Wild celebration (5) 28. Fibbed (4) 29. Intends (5) 30. and 9 Down. Sherwood Forest outlaw (5,4) 31. Above (4) 32. and 59 Down. Bethlehem visitors bearing gifts (5,4,3) 37.

Raising agent (5) 39. Cyclone (9) 42. Potato snack (5) 43. Christmas (4) 44 Orient (4) 45. Sacred song (5) 48. Jovial (7) 52. Strong liquor (7) 53. 32 Across and 59 Down(4) 55. Christmas communication (4) 57. Refer to (7) 60.

Alcoholic drink (6) 62. Jumps (5) 63. Large lizard (6) 65. `Mother ---', pantomime (5) 67. `--- in the Wood', pantomime (5) 68. Eskimo house (5) 69.

Madman (7) 70. North African country (5) 72. Water-nymph (5) 73. Reverie (5) 18 ACROSS cont'd 85. Greek letter (4) 87. Dickens's miser (7) 88. Unsophisticated (7) 90. Capital of Bulgaria (5) 91. Vocalise (4) 92. Another of the gifts from 32 Across and 59 Down(4) 94. Woman's name (5) 95. Sour red fruit (9) 99.

Ringing instruments (5) 102. See 120 Across 104. Aladdin's light (4) 105.

Cheroot (5) 106. Academy Award (5) 107. Long story (4) 108. See 122 Across 110. God rest you --- gentlemen(5) 111. Sea eagle (4) 113. Rich fruit dessert (4,7) 114. Mexican money unit (4) 115. Grasp (5) 117. Excessive (5) 119.

Eagle's nest (5) 120. 102, and 74 Down. Christmas carol (3,5,6) 121. Delete (5) 122. and 108 Across. Pantomime character with seven dwarfs (4,5) 123.

Jewellery items (5) 124. Monsters (5) 125. Desire (4) DOWN 2. Red-nosed reindeer (7) 3. Sack (3) 4. Sleigh (4) 5. Home of Jesus in his youth (8) 6.

Banquet (5) 8. Christmas season (8) 9. See 30 Across 10. Sign of the zodiac (3) 11. Curlers (7) 13. Christmas tree 'leaf' (6) 16. Small stone-fruit (6) 18. One of Santa's reindeer (6) 19. Mohair (6) 22. --- pipers piping(6) 25.

Pre-Christmas season (6) 33. Dried grapes (7) 34. Top of milk (5) 35. Present (4) 36. Facial hair (5) 38. and 46. Christmas carol (4,2,1,6) 40. Not suitable (5) 41. Female relative (5) 42. One of the 32 Across and 59 Down(6) 46. See 38 Down 47. Celebrity (4) 49. Christmas carol (6,5) 50. A partridge ---(2,1,4,4) Jumbo Puzzle Across 61. ---maids a-milking(5) 64. Fruit (5) 66. Finish (3) 67. Garden plot (3) 71. Nine --- dancing(6) 74. See 120 Across 75. One of Snow White's dwarfs (7) 76. Acid (4) 79. Male deer (4) 80. Suffocate (7) 81. Step (5) 82.

Skinflint (5) 84. and 114 Down. Christmas pastries (5,4) 86. Decorate (5) 89.

Part of the ear (4) 91. Homily (6) 93. Harm (6) 95. Refrigerating (8) 96.

Frightens (6) 97. Dwell (6) 98. Longing (8) 100. Level of command (7) 101.

Another of Snow White's dwarfs (6) 102. Well-known (6) 103. Vegetables (7) 109. Forceful (5) 112. Always (4) 114. See 84 Down 116. Stitch (3) 118. Novel (3) Solution on Page 21 Jumbo Puzzle Solution ACROSS 1. Crib; 4 Swans; 7 Myrrh; 10 Lord; 12 Angel; 14 Ten; 15 Ounce; 17 Adage; 20 Holly; 21 Eyed; 23 Carol singer; 24 Dame; 26 Blind; 27 Revel; 28 Lied; 29 Means; 30 Robin; 31 Over; 32 Three; 37 Yeast; 39 Hurricane; 42 Crisp; 43 Noel; 44 East; 45 Psalm; 48 Festive; 52 Spirits; 53 Magi; 55 Card; 57 Mention; 60 Sherry; 62 Leaps; 63 Iguana; 65 Goose; 67 Babes; 68 Igloo; 69 Nutcase; 70 Egypt; 72 Naiad; 73 Dream; 75 Bottle; 77 Vista; 78 Embers; 83 Inspire; 84 Meat; 85 Iota; 87 Scrooge; 88 Artless; 90 Sofia; 91 Sing; 92 Gold; 94 Ethel; 95 Cranberry; 99 Bells; 102 First; 104 Lamp; 105 Cigar; 106 Oscar; 107 Saga; 108 White; 110 Merry; 111 Erne; 113 Plum pudding; 114 Peso; 115 Clasp; 117 Undue; 119 Eyrie; 120 The; 121 Erase; 122 Snow; 123 Rings; 124 Ogres; 125 Wish. DOWN 2 Rudolph; 3 Bag; 4 Sled; 5 Nazareth; 6 Feast; 8 Yuletide; 9 Hood; 10 Leo; 11 Rollers; 13 Needle; 16 Cherry; 18 Donner; 19 Angora; 22 Eleven; 25 Advent; 33 Raisins; 34 Cream; 35 Gift; 36 Beard; 38 Away in a; 40 Unfit; 41 Niece; 42 Caspar; 46 Manger; 47 Star; 49 Silent Night; 50 In a pear tree; 51 Menu; 54 Associate; 56 Redbreast; 58 Bygones; 59 Wise Men; 61 Eight; 64 Apple; 66 End; 67 Bed; 71 Ladies; 74 Nowell; 75 Bashful; 76 Tart; 79 Buck; 80 Smother; 81 Stair; 82 Miser; 84 Mince; 86 Adorn; 89 Lobe; 91 Sermon; 93 Damage; 95 Chilling; 96 Alarms; 97 Reside; 98 Yearning; 100 Echelon; 101 Sleepy; 102 Famous; 103 Sprouts; 109 Pushy; 112 Ever; 114 Pies; 116 Sew; 118 New