CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Part of the melody will cause one some stress (6)

4. I’d backed out of the neighbourhood, being rigorous (6)

9. Has staff to ply some of the alterations (7)

10. Instrumentalist paid by the tune-caller (5)

11. Be nosy about the East being victim to it (4)

12. Some liquid colour suffers a loss (4)

13. This way may have to be made up (3)

15. The sheep that we found in two ways (4)

16. The newts that are set out around top of forest (4)

19. The total sounds like only a part of it (3)

21. A story of some mortal endeavour (4)

22. Soon, a negative that’s French will appear (4)

24. Is being concerned with sight of a spirit measure (5)

25. Wrongly understand how mire has changed (7)

26. Signs on for different roles around end of season (6)

27. Act as principal, and wield the axe (6)

DOWN

1. Walking on the street, one may help one to cross dry-shod (8-5)

2. Being full up, allow one to peer around like this (7)

3. Do some pressing work with a metal club (4)

5. Might get past being in a quarrel with the sheriff’s officer (8)

6. Could drive one to lie about a politician (5)

7. Being like a triangle may be old-hat (5-8)

8. Is on the move and making a bit of a commotion (5)

14. After five, clear it out in the direction of the axis (8)

17. It may be nicer, in the Southeast, to appear genuine (7)

18. Break out in passion as an object of love (5)

20. Vehicle test, or what is put in for it (5)

23. Man, for one, lies about it (4)