CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

5. Groundhog day at the races? (5)

8. Monopoly played by the directors? (5,4)

9. Purposely have no ruse for Coral (5) 10. Car part found all around the world (9)

11. Babies but no nuts in here and around the east is arid (4)

13. Rag-and-bone man returns with seaweed (4)

14. Vegetable listening device? (3) 15. Violinist takes one at the beginning and end of performance (3)

16. For babies but not t’consume (4) 19. What deerstalkers have is not serrated for these animals (4) 24. Nov. dawn he crafted (9)

25. Not entitled to have toad-in-thehole. What a lot of baloney (5)

26. Carols I’ve changed for the singer (9)

27. A specific method of using a fence clearer, we hear (5)

Down

1. No love of boulevards – how ridiculous! (6)

2. No food but mother returns inside. Great! (6)

3. The type of failure of a cow with no milk? (5)

4. A general sort of salad (6) 5. About the wool type – I need an answer (5)

6. Getting the measure of your subjects? (6)

7. A baby crab (6)

12. Still in winceyette pyjamas (3) 13. The veneration of seaweed (3) 16. Worn under slacks? (6) 17. A dramatic sort of ear borrower (6)

18. Blokes that are top pilots are a bit of a hazard (6) 20. Luxurious – like public toilets (6) 21. Extra fine days for hanging out washing? (6)

22. Being a clean one was a near miss (5)

23. Cloth made from alum root willow and bamboo (5)