CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Obscure screen of earth girl starts growing first (6,5)

8. Additional meaning to the public one (8)

9. It may have been the pen that was going back north (4)

10. King George, a fool to be an informer (5) 13. It may sound yellow to harness one to work (4)

16. Don't know who wrote it, in short? Coming! (4)

17. Leave one another for a bit (4) 18. Those who oppose motion are in small numbers around the East (4) 20. Aircraft waiting to land start stalling and move zigzag (5)

24. It is eternally there in the vernacular (4)

25. A water-boa turning on Canada (8)

26. They are learning the craft of precepts in a different form (11)

Down

2. Thatcher needs it to buck up (4) 3. Dairy product doesn't begin to give voice to it (5)

4. Used to turn round north of the sandhills (5)

5. Norse god, for instance, will put it to the proof (5)

6. Spring prison using writer’s tool (8,3) 7. It was meant to be at home with wigwam: a lion changed that (11) 11. Vigilant watcher argues that the East has disappeared (5)

12. Steam here in South Africa: peacekeepers have a following (5)

14. It's not written test that's alternative to a novice driver (4)

15. What Oliver demanded of Sir Thomas (4)

19. Just a bit one may do away with (5)

21. Nine players gave up part of the joint (5)

22. Plants chorus-leader on Act One (5)

23. As soon as it doesn't happen again? (4)