TELEGRAPH CROSSWORDS

Across

4 Prompt check on car – that is to save tax (8)

8 Power given by Irish water that produces agricultural turnover (6)

9 Tea-maker who tries really hard? (8)

10 Blended label rum – one should keep water away (8)

11 Old rocker’s following used to be dissipated (6)

12 Repress what head and tail of pups do? (6,2)

13 Most uneven nap, having eaten duck – that’s horrid! (8) 16 In great detail, eventually (2,6) 19 Doctor envied church grounds (8)

21 It’s left on Dec 24 by Santa and his reindeer, and grand to put around rhubarb (6)

23 Out-of-the-way tipsy cuddles, ecstasy to be hugged (8)

24 Learned folk will be polite, rational, internally … (8)

25 … more calm, sitting back in chauffeured limousine (6)

26 Northern god missing nothing, consumed in menace (8)

Down

1 Puzzle seeing married male, strong beast, oppressed by what he calls a cold! (7)

2 Traitor after endless fortune – one has to be well-paid (9)

3 The woman loveless love put off (6)

4 False impression made by undertaking absorbing little program about chicken (15)

5 Reject that could show worth? (5,3)

6 Circulation aids weathercocks, it’s said (5)

7 Having defeats and victories only, apparently, in an open-neck shirt? (7)

14 House idly refurbished in a frightful way (9)

15 I will join good number going to rave in the dark (8)

17 Like a mere stain? (7) 18 Half of school rejected studying sacred books by this writer, one inventing plots (7)

20 Pay and enter with the wrong order! (6)

22 Melody that gives those people energy (5)