crYPtic croSSWord

ACROSS 1 Old man’s guarding an idol in more than one temple (7)

5 Composer retains note in discord (6) 9 Queen and mother of three kings (European), thin men (7)

10 Teacher sent back fish dish (7) 11 Soldier cannot release 22 characters (3) 12 For example, an officer enters bank to get money (5,6)

13 Woman’s Spanish article inspiring English one (5)

14 Sacred song in small religious ceremony (9)

16 Airy ––– could create scary calamity (9) 17 Rubbish picked up on Thames that’s crammed into boats (5)

19 Warm reception in weird shop — it’s in Italy (11)

22 Peculiar old pennies (3)

23 Boxer interrupts sleep — he’s not a dreamer (7)

24 Maria’s letters mislaid by the Italian postal system (7)

26 Sister rings Katherine Torvill, say (6) 27 Searched Darlington, ignoring outskirts, for cheese (7) DOWN 1 Title sheet includes English monarch (7) 2 Guide set high water mark (without metres) for big swimmer (5,5,5)

3 Study in Germany, Spain and Norway (3) 4 Shoot in season, withholding name (5) 5 Mill buyer ordered item on chemist’s table (9)

6 Make certain rector’s going to follow (5) 7 Could poor migrant settle for fantasy world? (5,6,4)

8 Ocean traveller’s favourite relative (6) 12 Ring up about one flowering shrub (5) 14 MI6 boss organised a PR system (9) 15 Creamy-white and gold plant that climbs hedging (5)

16 Company head office right for statisticians’ group (6)

18 Built from basic units, this car could be armour-clad (7)

20 Fool produces mild riposte occasionally (5)

21 Sarah’s boy is caught stealing articles (5) 25 Deer in line, say (3)