DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC

ACROSS

1 Stop and come to grips with a lifting system (5,3,6) 9 The more serious will catch and embrace contest (7)

10 Speak badly of art ordered by Mussolini (7) 11 Mother takes ages in fixing element (9) 12 Reduced animus I created through harmonious sound (5) 13 Diana is after tamer recreation (7)

15 Ship’s passage under mob direction (7)

17 Crazy to prohibit NASA program (7)

18 Draw blood and withdraw from the race (7) 20 Eat quickly and speak poorly (5)

22 Rate upset more reliable financial officer (9) 24 Manage poetry in Old English (7)

25 Wave theory starting with a minus of sorts (7) 26 Historically significant disclosure of albums? (6-8) DOWN

1 Artist’s quarter moves home after British India ends (7)

2 Love resonated wrongly with aunt and primate (5-4) 3 Kin fashioned iron blade (5)

4 Member of the drug squad is South American plant (9)

5 Family emblem combined measures of spirit and print (5)

6 Performed no miracle for underground worker (4,5) 7 Many taking over central court are hooligans (5) 8 Cross to inscribe between edges of tray (6)

14 Fellow softie shuddered at party program (9)

15 Rent consumer appliance for winter (3,6)

16 Dumb waiter included tariff for harbour transport (5,4)

17 Give a prize for the most outstanding expression of pain! (6)

19 Kipper with head of hair going astray (7)

21 Overhead, wild bees are thick (5)

22 Tailor’s hems finish in fashion (5)

23 Puts up a monument (5) Yesterday’s solutions:

Across: - 1 Tickets. 5 Acerbic. 9 Aztec. 10 Yesterday. 11 Piping hot.

12 Treat. 13 Eclair. 15 Barracks. 18 Arsonist. 19 Pleats. 22 Spoor. 24 Unearthed. 26 Recumbent. 27 Manic. 28 Dynasty. 29 Rancour. Down: - 1 Trample. 2 Catapults. 3 Ex-con. 4 Scythe. 5 Alsatian. 6 Electoral. 7 Budge. 8 Coyotes. 14 Ignoramus. 16 Crash into. 17 Astutely. 18 Assured. 20 Side-car. 21 Tester. 23 Oscan. 25 Rumen.