THE CRYPTIC: Mungo MacCallum

ACROSS

1. Has a vision problem, but both observes and notices (4,6) 6. Plots and cots (4)

8. Good man beside toilet slashed with a dagger (8)

9. Hydrophobia found in

Serbia (6)

10. Send back old magazine (4)

11. Unhappy gods in hell – could be Celtic (3,7)

12. Aborting trials – hating (9)

14. Little vehicle, strong head cover (5)

17. Sporting contests for ethnic groups (5)

19. At home with unspecified speed, whatever happens (2,3,4)

22. I, thou, we, she – together in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (5,5)

23. A song, a song returns (4)

24. A written statement about a load of wood (6)

25. Expel Verdi (5,3)

26. French sea, English pond (4) 27. Improve efficiency – master plan with one-dimensional locus (10)

DOWN

1. Hangman’s undergarment? (9) 2. East landed on leader – an exclusive type (7)

3. Stops remote settlements (8) 4. Dull noise and error, complained Spooner of the sensational thriller (5,3,7) 5. Wandering queen with wild talk (6)

6. Bar club – be smashed with an Isetta! (6,3)

7. Furniture for the theatrical assistant (7)

13. Choose, transported – but it could be positive or negative (9)

15. Free, let men far from port city (9)

16. Heavenly being, one around sweet green stuff (8)

18. Unfortunate, the late Olympian … (7)

20. … self-evidently a top man in the monastery, one… (7)

21. … for ghosts and sunglasses (6)

Solution next week