CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

6. I spilt slop container when baby-sitting perhaps (2,4,8) 9. Brief series about gardens that’s transfixing (6) 10. Licence to cut top off old chestnut (8) 11. Speaking eloquently after a function? That’s rich (8) 13. Cavalryman returns having mislaid old account (6) 15. Busy producing last part of play without female (6) 17. Cricket game bores Goldsmith? All the signs are there (6) 19. Lock up trainee (6) 20. Letters before noon briefly fool huge area (8) 22. One very delayed daughter put in quarantine (8) 24. Attractive item meant to be twisted round dog’s tail (6) 26. Mad Caribbean plan to store uranium in unstable state (6,8)

Down

1. Liam’s OK if treated with short 24 and laxative (4,2,8) 2. Labour leader in east London area creating shock (4) 3. It’s hard to find Sierra motor these days (6) 4. Handel wrote one speech mostly about other ranks (8) 5. Seabird’s speed through water (4) 7. Taste last bit of tuna in dish (6) 8. Edit NHS piece about exact report without quotes (8,6) 12. Turner left two articles (5) 14. Politician hosts teacher, retired, colourful figure? (5) 16. Italian, naive sort, keeps goal (8) 18. Priest went ahead, say, overturning vow (6) 21. Businessmen with no sense distorted overhead threat? (6) 23. Luxuriant orchids and magnolias initially grow in this? (4) 25. Divide odd bits of grub left (4)