Crossword Genius

Hollow crutch supports animated postman delivering parcel (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

patch

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'parcel' is the definition.
(I know that patch is a type of parcel)

'hollow crutch supports animated postman' is the wordplay.
'hollow' suggests removing the centre (the word is hollowed out).
'supports' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (bottom letters provide a support for the top ones).
'animated postman' becomes 'pat' (children's TV character Postman Pat. I am not sure about the 'animated' bit.).
'crutch' with its centre removed is 'ch'.
'ch' put after 'pat' is 'PATCH'.

'delivering' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for patch that I've seen before include "Small piece of ground" , "Material used to cover a tear" , "Mend with extra piece" , "Court plaster" , "Material to cover repair" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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