CRYP TIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Northern Europeans must adopt centigrade measures ( 6) 5 Holding supplies of a particular hosiery item ( 8) 9 Steep service charge after the first of March ( 8) 10 Favouring attack, to gain an advantage ( 6) 11 Quiet dependable person going around in the morning for plant ( 8) 12 End of letter written in pink pen ( 6) 13 The effect of a drop in gravity? (4,4) 15 Part of leg that comes from a cow? (4) 17 Thump pest often found in bed (4) 19 Sorry etc about one on track ( 8) 20 Father split his responsibility as such ( 6) 21 Ranked in order before editor became angry ( 8) 22 Looking embarrassed and inexperienced, make new sketch ( 6) 23 Speed of free love – it’s within

the bounds of curiosity ( 8) 24 Trap a lie about bones like

these? ( 8) 25 Arab state welcoming last of

various sycophants ( 3- 3)

DOWN

2 Answer after song about a bete noire ( 8) 3 Nothing to go with strawberries? Take the best ( 5,3) 4 Neighbours perhaps like this artist entertaining a church leader (4,5) 5 Hello – your ears must be burning! ( 5,2,3,5) 6 Fish eggs left company transport facility ( 3,4) 7 A student on grass? The other way round, but that’s unofficial! ( 8) 8 Manage okay, but delayed over wearing medal ( 3,5) 14 Really on fire and really worried! ( 9) 15 To applaud role coming up is nonsense ( 8) 16 Both sides will accept playing abroad – but here? ( 8) 17 Disciplines needed for scenes otherwise including the Channel Islands ( 8) 18 Worry, but nations together agree on terms ( 8) 19 Boat requiring speed around bar ( 7)