CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Clung with feet in order to bend the knee (9)

5. Creature found in cracking nuts (3)

7. Window-frame with steel top has to be constructed (4)

8. The odd leper may have thought it abysmal (8)

10. Protect one from shock so that one could use Latin for it (8)

11. Effect a union when about fifty? Yes! (4)

13. Has rig made that’s loud and colourful (6)

15. The can Edward made was coloured (6)

18. Call one for space in which to box (4)

19. Soap held in such a way may be made into plant (8)

22. Pulls faces at the forbidding experts (8)

23. One from the deck who’s quite a character (4)

24. The male of the species is a mean scoundrel (3)

25. And, in short, this is it (9)

DOWN

1. Leave with David’s weapon like a little goose (7)

2. Is inquisitive as to hooters (5)

3. About ten trees one perhaps brings into active operation (6)

4. A road fee, or its cost in those injured (4)

5. A piece of apparel, sleeve of which gent is holding (7)

6. How one did reverse? (5)

9. Top bed, rich in vegetation, will change colour (5)

12. A match is of little weight (5)

14. In the which one is considered raceworthy (7)

16. Suffering wrong idea, is nothing less than loud indeed (7)

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