CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Holy, but might be scared to be so (6) 8. Dialect form of one do I'm making up (5)

9. Sheriff 's officer may fail if going after bandleader (7)

11. Big appeal on the box to let hen out (8) 12. Very severe plane disruption (5) 15. Bread, form of which is funny with top removed (4)

16. Dark liquid drink left by medical man (3)

17. Depravity is very nasty, putting the end first (4)

19. It will slightly colour some element in geophysics (5)

21. Productive of fur, it may be almost complete (8)

24. Provide what's wanted with fist, say (7) 25. Carried on war as the West got older (5) 26. A gutter in the street may be home to a dog (6)

Down

2. Sensible to the era, was almost given up (5)

3. Label I reuse if it can be counted on (8) 4. It's handy to be fed up before end of Lent (4)

5. Such a name may be Christian (5) 6. Significant meaning may be found under the skin (4)

7. A last word in name-changing (4) 10. Sue fool in case he turns criminal (9) 12. Closely study an opening in the skin (4)

13. Public tumult is done, it would appear (8) 14. Run away from the sound a parasite makes (4)

18. How to scrutinise a department of knowledge (5)

20. With chef, faggots are partly given up as a blunder (5)

21. A young deer may flatter one in a servile way (4)

22. An impulse in our general makeup (4) 23. A bit of fun with an early riser (4)