CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. The Lib rally, at a place where one does as one pleases (7,4)

8. Think too highly of number of balls bowled to the hour (8)

9. People initially upset by the bill of fare (4)

10. A criminal is one with taking ways (5)

13. One lot that turns out to work hard at it (4)

16. Lamb was taken back in by some retailers (4)

17. It won’t quite make the side of an open tart (4)

18. Before start of Prom, there’s a little homework (4)

20. Made a speech as it went from hub to rim (5)

24. Horse’s white streak seen in speed event (4)

25. Used to thunder at one, tin being broken (8)

26. It may be just stacked with book-covers (4,7)

DOWN

2. Was chilled, so was given a sweet coat (4)

3. Down to it one comes, landing, with common sense (5)

4. A tenth of it appears in article (5)

5. Maid might start truculently to let one in (5)

6. It may correspond to gaming disc a bit (11)

7. Kid one it’s what traction may do for lower limb (4,4,3)

11. Separate things in set I’m compiling (5)

12. Page of account book one can fool around with (5)

14. If it’s oleaginous, put it in foil yourself (4)

15. Small creatures that would be singularly rhymed with a louse (4)

19. The squeeze, as applied by journalists (5)

21. The two letters father needs for this animal (5)

22. Fail to pay, but seek admittance (5)

23. Skin growth shown up in most rawhide (4) WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Genuflect 5. Gnu 7. Sash 8. Deplored 10. Insulate

11. Weld 13. Garish 15. Tinted 18. Ring 19. Asphodel

22. Grimaces 23. Card 24. Dog 25. Ampersand

Down: 1. Gosling 2. Noses 3. Exerts 4. Toll 5. Garment

6. Undid 9. Blush 12. Light 14. Running 16. Deluded

17. Asleep 18. Raged 20. Diana 21. Saga