CRYPTIC 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)