### Clue: Stops lads eating junk and fries essentially (8)
### Answer: STATIONS 
 ### Explanation: Definition: Stops
 SONS(form of address for "lads"/boys) **containing**(eating) TAT(junk/worthless items) **plus**(and) **middle letter of**(… essentially) "fries".
Defn: … along a railway line, say.