Local paper

[netibiza]

Afloat - (5) a-a--
Deceive (4) -o--
Steering mechanisms on ships (5) -y-ns (not sure)
biscuit (5) -a-ew (not sure)

thanks

[novalis]

biscuit is probably wafer
deceive could be hoax
afloat could be awash

[novalis]

If not hoax try fool

[netibiza]

thank you- I've been hours trying to solve this.

[novalis]

What letters do you now have for steering mechanisms because helms comes to mind.

[netibiza]

Am in complete muddlenow-

Yes helms seems right, so what is

drenches (4) re-s
ancient biblical kingdon ed-m?
hurry away (5) sco--
think I've gone ghastly wrong somewhere!

[netibiza]

I think hurry away is scoot
biblical kingdon is edom
which leaves me with drenches - rets??if biscuit is wafer (and that's the only thing it can be) cos the r is the end of biscuits,whereas if it's wets then wafer doesn't spell right.

[novalis]

Sorry about delay in coming back to you first time I've been on since yesterday evening. Ret is an old verb meaning to soak.

[netibiza]

Brill - thank you sooo much - with your help I've done it!!!