{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Light nonsense is still produced (9)
8 Father has to confess and make headlines (5)
9 Children’s playthings? (7)
10 No corner stone? (6)
11 Leave for the Sahara perhaps (6)
12 Withdraw a summary (8)
15 Everything is plain; the alert is over (3,5)
18 Attacked the copper with acid (6)
20 There’s hostility when I cast my net around (6)
21 Stop and go after amber changes (7)
22 A once rough sea (5)
23 They keep shops smartened perhaps (9)
DOWN
2 Over one ounce of oxygen (5)
3 Having a down on? (6)
4 The birthright of their crazy generation (8)
5 Bring about a result (6)
6 Dread going round the globe and therefore don’t (7)
7 Apparently outstanding, but hardly fine (9)
11 A classic dream once shattered (9)
13 Gave a shriek and scared me badly (8)
14 One on a diet may turn out so (7)
16 The French take shelter to be hidden (6) 17 Fights for food left over (6)
19 It keeps a sharp eye on German and American arms (5)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 US political scandal (9)
8 Open to suspicion (5)
9 Legislative act (7)
10 Obvious (6)
11 US wild horse (6)
12 Restlessly excited (8) 15 Air force unit (8)
18 Display enticingly (6)
20 Expression of respect (6)
21 Furtive procedure (7)
22 A signalling code (5)
23 Requiring great effort (9)
DOWN
2 To change (5)
3 Scope (6)
4 Exceed accepted limits (2,3,3)
5 Treat as identical (6)
6 Do good to (7)
7 Former (9) 11 Profanity (9)
13 Blood feud (8)
14 Done without formality (7)
16 Pertinacious (6)
17 Under consideration (2,4)
19 Reveal a secret (3,2)