CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Collection of odds and ends Lea can smile about (11)

8. With ten-tenths cloud, it’s votes car needs (8)

9. Two thou, in France, for a ballet skirt (4)

10. Sort of skating out of Paris (5)

13. Drag along for the laugh, perhaps? Gee, no! (4)

16. Can hold hydrogen, if skinny (4)

17. The West, to his confusion, is father to the thought (4)

18. Has debts, so we must change (4)

20. ‘Frailty, thy name is ——-’ (Hamlet) (5)

24. Advantage one has in being a seed, generally (4)

25. A hydrant in the Gulf, ripe for development (4-4)

26. Equestrianism is a regular pursuit, dressed in this (6-5)

DOWN

2. What occurs to one Gilbertian Princess about the East (4)

3. Company repeatedly needing a hot drink (5)

4. Light beam put up in picture salon (5)

5. Is not going to church to mark the score (5)

6. Psychologically prepared, once it did no different (11)

7. Get to end of difficulty as with hyphen it cleans gun (4,7)

11. Member of wife’s family working as a solicitor? (2-3)

12. Bad weather on street or motorway (5)

14. Indigo shows no goals after a start (4)

15. It’s as plain as a fish on the staff (4)

19. A mount set out on end without a middle (5)

21. Being due to come in first, go up and hold it (5)

22. Where sport takes place in a square, naturally (5)

23. Evil comes out of the swamp in Africa (4) WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Whiskered 5. But 7. Sops 8. Spinning 10. Oil-wells

11. Stet 13. Turner 15. Covers 18. Pipe 19. Unburden

22. Gorgeous 23. Doom 24. Yes 25. Safety pin

Down: 1. Wash-out 2. Impel 3. Ripple 4. Deny 5. Bristle

6. Tight 9. Lever 12. Bogus 14. Reports 16. Sandman

17. Engulf 18. Piggy 20. Droop 21. Sets