PUZZLE 15641

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Out-of-date sort of chair taken into account (7)

5 Number involved in tree-chopping exercise (5)

8 Lacking merit, so not so expensive (9) 9 Proceed to a port in India (3) 10 Possibly went in the pond (4)

12 Turn round and eject a sailor (3,5) 14 German doctor returns in a cab (6) 15 Holy smoke, it could be responsible! (6) 17 Looking amazed (4-4)

18 A form of need where there was none (4) 21 Priest quite absorbed in his religion (3) 22 No longer fresh, like hired horses (9) 24 It’s to be seen on a rifle (5)

25 The rest of one’s days (7)

DOWN

1 Saw an odd place for a dam (5)

2 Dog used in security work (3)

3 He foots the bill - and it hurts! (4) 4 Chubby child, high-spirited? (6)

5 In the end a menial is captivated (8) 6 Absorbed in legal terms (9)

7 It may pop up for breakfast (7) 11 Unsure what to do, we nod distractedly then make a call (9)

13 To an extent how teams are formed (8) 14 Being unusually hot and sore, they express disapproval (7) 16 Eyebrow-raising writer? (6)

19 That forget-me-not touch? (5)

20 It turns on an opponent (4)

23 The solver of this puzzle in difficulty ought to do it (3)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Philistine giant (7) 5 Accumulated hidden store (5) 8 Adherent (9) 9 Rocket-launching platform (3) 10 As soon as (4)

12 To control (8)

14 Biblical strong man (6)

15 Fine knitted fabric (6) 17 Intermittent (8)

18 A stone fruit (4) 21 Mischievous fairy (3) 22 Behind with due payments (2,7) 24 Simple song (5) 25 Well-formed (7)

DOWN 1 Relish (5)

2 Back chat (3)

3 Declare openly (4) 4 Detestation (6)

5 Strong hero in mythology (8) 6 Assessment of worth (9) 7 Enfeebled by age (7) 11 Don’t be ridiculous! (4,3,2) 13 Neighbourhood (8)

14 Hold in abeyance (7) 16 Mythical family of giants (6) 19 Smelling stale (5) 20 Operatic song (4) 23 Historical period (3)