GUARDIAN CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

(27,516)

ACROSS 1 Rock room, turning away

leader of criminals (2,3) 4 Together in firm, the lower

classes fawned around one (8) 8 One may help police drag men off, keeping peace at first between two women (6,8) 10 Flirts with right-winger,

getting one animated (3,5) 11 Racists bearing cross

round as warning (6) 12 What Piaf had indoors

at intervals — waders (2,7) 15 Take part of sheet (the bottom)

and stick back (5) 17 Tucking into acorns?

At first you are allowed to (5) 18 Record holder’s

go on board (9) 19 Two or three prepositions,

altogether (2,4) 21 Strong feelings leading to hard argument — over its expansion? (8) 24 Dangerous creature in trap? Rubbish — fright that is for nothing (3,4,7) 25 I say Anna is a cow (8) 26 Gardeners stand nervously around spades? Not very (5) DOWN 1 Timid hangman trembles, needing utmost strength (5,3,4) 2 Bishop forces sports

fans abroad (5,4) 3 Hard work is great in

service? On the contrary (5) 4 “Democrat in, Tories out!” — that is to confuse (9) 5 Start to cut, shape and grind (4) 6 Old king’s service perhaps about to save the pound (9) 7 I fight to seize Republican ground (5) 9 To be clear, on planets not our own there is no opening for life (2,5,5) 13 Being possible to reach, successfully phone restaurant (3-2-4) 14 Hear master had a seizure, having overindulged (9) 16 Purple with fresh air and bungee jumping (9) 20 Tennis’s beginning on grass in a moment (5) 22 Murdered, throat cut — get the law! (5) 23 Inspiration taken from heraldic lion (4)