THE CROSSWORDS

PUZZLE 16246

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Topsy-turvy promotion team relegated (6-4)

8 Female undergarments, possibly bloomers (5) 9 Experimental growth as a way of life (7) 10 Excursions from Tunis go free (7)

11 Strangely adore a mountain nymph (5) 12 Discourteous sailor put out around mid-afternoon (6)

14 Goods thrown out from planes in the morning (6)

17 A widespread current issue (5)

19 Hold back the chorus (7)

21 Clergymen curse at changes (7)

22 Perhaps my pet needs feeding (5)

23 Another employee - not a new one (6,4)

DOWN

2 Artist keeps a boat by the bank (7)

3 More than one ghost writer (5)

4 Free from blame maybe (6)

5 Lacking brothers and sisters and just twelve months old (4,3)

6 Hopeless - and without purpose (2,3)

7 What one is prepared to pay? (5,5)

8 Ocean winds of a sort Arctic explorers have to face (4,3,3)

13 Fashionable substitute for wood or metal (7) 15 Give some point to something (7)

16 Place for one who pinches or nips perhaps (6) 18 Musical instruments not true in sound? (5) 20 Saucy novel? (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Squander (3,7)

8 A smart blow (5) 9 Hotchpotch (7) 10 Beginner (7) 11 Illuminated (3,2) 12 Exaggerate (6) 14 Liquefied by heat (6) 17 Of a particular place (5) 19 A radioactive metal (7) 21 A male servant (7) 22 Establish and develop (5) 23 Complete stop (10)

DOWN

2 Ignorant (7)

3 Symbolic (5)

4 Change for the better (6) 5 Paris street scene painter (7) 6 Centre (5)

7 Extremely angry (7,3) 8 Chosen occupation (4,2,4) 13 Predicament (7)

15 Of little importance (7) 16 Bankrupt (6)

18 Traverse (5)

20 Scope (5)