DAILY BRAIN TEASERS

Across 7 A penetrating despair about the next world? (8) 9 Independent contract with Sun models (6) 10 Hard going by single file (4) 11 Refraining from need to carry can (10) 12 Seed finally winning serves taking new balls (6) 14 About time to reverse having runs on banks (8) 15 Amercian wrench never releases odd items (6) 17 Empty emotion in Sin City in Italy (6) 20 Telling lie going back into clink (8) 22 Country is able to plug middle of dam (6) 23 Scream after voice gets altered (10) 24 Very last offer for sale (4) 25 A taste one’s acquired for rodent (6) 26 Mad Hatter, heartless even, shows menace (8) Down

1 Wood a swine’s cut into heaps (8)

2 Naughty sweetheart proposed? (4)

3 Very important things, aiding life support initially (6)

4 Excited girlie wearing fine English lacework (8)

5 Mission leading to manoeuvres round end of battle (10)

6 Start of cool look with revolutionary hat (6)

8 Some otters at zoo may be artificial (6)

13 Catching criminal before mark promises to pay (10)

16 Rampant great penning dime novel (8)

18 Hazard sitting butt on needle (8)

19 Shocked seeing bag has tea inside (6)

21 Ample individual getting comeuppance? Pooh! (6)

22 Endless game to capture Queen for so long (6)

24 Reportedly horrible medicine container (4)