CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Wild cat is stalking cobra,

writhing and tumbling (10) 6 Men seeking stable parts of

moat, grit falling unevenly (4) 9 Motorway with illuminations, westbound excellent for emergency service? (7) 10 Boozer in almost entirely prime

colours (7)

12 Rash of surplus plastic noticed

around northern France (4-9) 14 Dog following return of the

Queen’s hawk (6)

15 And what have you

from Rome? (2,6)

17 Journalist showing behind while notice is given (8)

19 Weep as son rejected

the wine in Provence (6)

22 A good deal securer using local net search about retiring (7-6)

24 Quintet sit rabbiting about

incorporating singer? (7) 25 Best essence of citrus, small

amount (7)

26 Get away with late arrival for hospital somewhere in London (4) 27 British disarmed revolts,

including one person holding up train (10)

DOWN

1 Handy to be associated with

this force? (4)

2 Prevent rugby hooligan touring

Spain (4,3)

3 Smashing things made from flour mix using metric weights (9-4)

4 Dream to be 25 with a piercing,

instead of old and posh (6) 5 Cases found in taxi this person

catches (8)

7 Husband permitted to wear

tucked in jumper? (7) 8 Voracious, taking a bite of reel bait as nibbling’s on the rise (10)

11 NY-based organisation shortly

becoming French one? (6,7) 13 Second-rate highway outlaws

seizing English food (5,5) 16 Northern resident declared

showers overpriced (8)

18 Top of singles 100 chart,

composed score (7)

20 Home extension also gripped by unruly rave (7)

21 Qualified in a tie too,

presumably (6)

23 Daughter supports that

woman’s family of 16? (4)