CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. The light it’s not worth? It’s wicked! (6)

4. Strolls to slaughterhouse without initial call for silence (6)

9. Indicated ‘ow smooth the ground was made? (7)

10. A handy thing it is to nail a lightning sketch (5)

11. A hot shine, note, when depressed (4)

12. One one should not believe can get transport system back (4)

13. Peppery host of trade leaders (3)

15. An entertainment one will not conceal (4)

16. Lynch mob gets the this of things, right? (4)

19. A confrontation has grown internally (3)

21. Run off out of control, though this locks stable door (4)

22. Wine is at variance with it (4)

24. Hunter of gold no one backs (5)

25. Have the governing of the clutch, for example ... (7)

26. ... using three-fifths of pedal? Yes – make it fast (6)

27. Heartless spy accepts credit, making situation awkward (6)

DOWN

1. Switching one’s accommodation to get into strip? (8,5)

2. Gets the sides in with pointer in opposite directions (7)

3. Fine linen may be rolled and mown (4)

5. Serge, for instance, may change team with 12 (8)

6. Sound tickled when possibly getting a hug when past fifty (5)

7. Taunts, say, Bill suffers in a solid sort of way (13)

8. Confess it follows mad turn-out (5)

14. Company in endless debt, about a thou’, got it together (8)

17. Fuel no end of artifice as to the tummy (7)

18. Situation put at table (5)

20. Top of hovercraft in port will give high complaining sound (5)

23. Think of turning up, dropping hydrogen to unite closely (4)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Nepotism 7. Error 8. Several 9. Maidens 10. Lamb

12. Needles 14. Satanic 17. Sago 18. British 21. Erosion

22. Thong 23. Betrayer

Down: 1. Nestle 2. Pavement 3. Tore 4. Salmon 5. Free 6. Crisis

7. Evident 11. Hunting 13. Locality 14. Sabots 15. Cohere

16. Corner 19. Iron 20. Door