CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. It means fox is seen, brutally hounded, with no cover (5-2)

5. By design, females stop working online (3,3)

9. Best time briefly to cut gemstone (7)

10. Token abacus, for example (7)

11. Emperor sacks second seaman (3)

12. Arrange belated lift for Waterloo, perhaps (11)

13. Disease one caught in swimming pool (5)

14. Grief from a teacher annoyed about homework primarily (9)

16. Passing record on border with a long time left (9)

17. Load first of coal on old ship (5)

19. Bloke hugging each part of trunk is a tree expert (11)

22. Take action against most of Red Sea port (3)

23. Note following old Baltic city’s artistic paperwork (7)

24. Cover over girl’s predicament (7)

26. What has to be discussed to finish within range? (6)

27. Ultimate receiver of goods ensured supply (3,4)

Down

1. Dance couples favoured jumps (3-4)

2. Next, a large slim ruler’s creative way to solve problem (7,8)

3. Former PM raised starchy tuber (3)

4. Pair climb to grab wings of little nestling (5)

5. Laugh out loud about US state twice making cheap ring (5,4)

6. Surly, like the three billy-goats in fable (5) 7. Fellow with Mrs Thatcher is a working man with a sack (6,9)

8. Plod straight round suburbs of Dorking (6)

12. Plant runs during period of rapid growth (5)

14. Instrument a rich man designed with disc (9)

15. Understood island’s engaged in diplomacy (5)

16. Alcoholic concoction, say, going bad without one (6)

18. Old song about enclosure located outdoors (4-3) 20. American tucks into a drink once more (5)

21. Unaffiliated film company didn’t drive regularly (5)

25. Light went in front (3)