CRYPTIC CROSSWORD:

NO. 28,673

Across

7 Leave out case for sporty garment (8)

9 An East Anglian lake over a considerable area (6) 10 Ill-natured agitated guy, about fifty (4) 11 Authorisation for each sortie (10)

12 Experiment by friend, insignificant (6) 14 Exaggerated praise from English dramatist taking coffee inside (8)

15 Son, plump and squat (6) 17 Signal from bishop minister with duke ignored (6)

20 Seat of government there, not concerning former Tory leader (3,5)

22 Perhaps fly home to join party (6)

23 Impressive shrine by a lake (10) 24 Accomplished daughter, single (4)

25 Guest to register by middle of afternoon (6)

26 Rough cough, say (3-5)

Down

1 Polished sword, good for fencing (3-5)

2 Nimble, mole round end of arbour (4)

3 Shrewd holding up piano store (6)

4 British, notice, in mature bit of banter (8)

5 Supporters, lots getting hard facts (5,5)

6 Work in research building connected with us (6)

8 Short article on flaw in economy (6)

13 Assistant referee’s influence on try (5,5)

16 Pet hates insects round brook (8)

18 Davy Jones, maybe? (8) 19 Bench to decide (6) 21 Bringer of bad luck in gangster circles (6)

22 Instead of popular piece of fiction, first from Updike (2,4)

24 Writer had upped and left (4)