CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

▶ Across

1. Ridiculous ratings, endlessly rude and upsetting (6)

8. One piece of ammo is circular (5) 9. Did something wounding, being potty to go back to bed (7)

11. See about airborne soldier end of regiment will take apart (8)

12. Sort of metal, something like a line in a boat (5)

15. What produces unhappiness is to exist back-to-front (4)

16. Something poetic older dramatists essay initially (3)

17. Sort of event for anyone to enter: it's not been decided (4)

19. Go steadily ahead and produce dud notes (5)

21. Both taps used, painting the barrow (4-4)

24. You start to merit old penny one longed for (7)

25. Say what you will have to command (5) 26. Making wry faces when tackling the lawn? (6)

▶ Down

2. A number in the tub, or number in the oven at one time (5)

3. Something to put up when it comes down (8)

4. One cheats the she-rabbits (4) 5. Play-time, when one will soundly slow down (5)

6. Animal getting back up to a degree (4) 7. That is, about 550 just tick over (4) 10. A D-I-Y volume for the office table (4,5) 12. Try to find and understand the beginning of knowledge (4)

13. Shakespeare's petty pacer: it never comes! (8)

14. It may enable one to get lower in the back needlessly (4)

18. Twenty make a line with a point (5) 20. Shade allowing one to go, being inexperienced (5)

21. Fictional bear has turned up something to bowl (4)

22. ‘wanton wiles, ____, and becks, and wreathed smiles’ (Milton) (4)

23. Designate something such as Trinity (4)