CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

3 Light-hearted teasing of part of the foot of a bird (9) 8 Places to sleep in the county (4) 9 Rest quickly after a meal (9) 10 Eastern team were in front, but were expelled (6) 11 Possibly debar facial hair (5) 14 Just claim it’s a name (5) 15 Intend to be stingy (4) 16 Vagrant on a merchant ship (5) 18 Instrument - you can get another one in (4) 20 A flower came up (5) 21 Possibly slain with tacks (5) 24 Atom is split by Chinese communist (6) 25 No bat, mind, can be used for this game (9) 26 Excursion visiting ancient city? (4) 27 Impudence of bighead also showing impetuosity (9)

DOWN

1 Not partial to the thing I have (9) 2 Modern speech showing dependence on drugs? (9) 4 Said to have listened to The Animals (4) 5 Part of a film in which Stephen Hendry takes part? (5) 6 Ailing member of the company (6) 7 Truncheon keeping the company quiet (4) 9 Hat taken from scribe returned (5) 11 Carries animals (5) 12 He expects interest to be shown (9) 13 Boffin-like list? (9) 17 Heathen father on horseback (5) 19 Priests take in many on August 1st (6) 22 Former Russian leader got up at 9.50 (5) 23 Just light (4) 24 No adherent of The Rolling Stones! (4)