CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

10/5

ACROSS

1. In part of play, did get confused as to the one hooked (6)

8. Nacrous concretion right inside ring (5)

9. He is, one may think, the perpetrator (7)

11. Inclination to finish in letting agreement after an absence (8)

12. 5 Down may confront one face to face (5)

15. Etna’s spillage will half-land on Virginia (4)

16. An argument as to how one will look to pull a boat (3)

17. Pin of beer taken around ten (4)

19. Form of music party first and last given, California variety (5)

21. Sort of rose to be the norm (8)

24. Was aching at end of day for it to be gained by Labour (7)

25. Surface of road – motorway – has let a change come about (5)

26. For storage of menu, it left desktop in the rear perhaps (6)

DOWN

2. At cards, two could have been forty all (5)

3. Size of old paper – Mail – ripe for development (8)

4. Clever handling of situation by Tom returning on time (4)

5. One of a suit used in digs (5)

6. Advocates collectively go north for this sort of dance (4)

7. Drama on words provided by punster (4)

10. PM, a Tory, re-assembled it but it wasn’t to last (9)

12. What one may be called on to pay the beak (4)

13. Workman joins the Socialist party with hesitation (8)

14. Size of old paper copy media held up (4)

18. Do up in a nonchalant way when one left in a curious manner (5)

20. Part and parcel being all of such a man in chess (5)

21. Identical to the missile that faced the East (4)

22. Parts of 7 are in the Bible (4)

23. To be a hander-out of wood (4)