Crossword No. 4041: Motley Collection by Merlin

Symmetry: 180 degree

Size: 144 cells

Theme:
In half of the answers one letter is omitted, wherever it occurs, to form the grid entry. These spell out “Pied Piper of Hamelin”. Reflecting this theme, the remaining across answers each have RAT removed, while the remaining down answers each have a boy’s or girl’s name removed.