CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

6. Digging on surface, can mist spread into hole? (8,6) 9. State of oblivion disoriented Proust (6) 10. Fill bus with last of tourists, drunk and ecstatic (8) 11. Slope had distorted plant (8) 13. More small people on set who are speechless? (6) 15. In Lord’s, he dismisses Unionist fury about MP (6) 17. Nicked yacht finally moves near front in IoW waters (6) 19. Mob’s throwing West Indian out (6) 20. Expert in plant managed to find first food source (8) 22. A minor novel involving a cold pasta (8) 24. Operator avoids training someone with good address? (6) 26. Problem son losing his footing on British strand (9,5)

Down

1. Pilot shouts out with unseemly haste, heading this way? (5-9) 2. Notice piano emerge slowly (4) 3. Small vehicle, beginning to explore Germany, rattled (6) 4. Writer’s approaching quarry with books close at hand (8) 5. Old student body’s burden (4) 7. It’s missing from caption and it’s hard to detect (6) 8. UK learners won’t fancy ‘brainy’ computer systems (6,8) 12. Cool river mammal (5) 14. During half of term, university lecturers make cloth (5) 16. Toys, silver and diamonds found in luxury car (3,5) 18. During operation there’s no time for choice (6) 21. Obama struggled to conserve energy in early life (6) 23. A motorway obstructing doctor’s rounds (4) 25. Nothing in cash machine? Just the tiniest amount (4)