CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

▶ Across

1. They let people look for oil and are made to meet half-way (11)

8. Secluded places one falls back to (8)

9. Having nothing on, the thought may be off-hand (4)

10. Where there are races, South Africa returns to lying situation (5)

13. Put out the hour to return (4)

16. Get bass, perhaps, to deal with rugby ball? (4)

17. Army doctor joins Sappers – with something else to come (4)

18. Splinters into fine stuff (4)

20. When to be aggressively male, lose nothing, and about right (5)

24. Profit by having a trap around (4)

25. A deal of flatulence with the oboes and clarinets? (8)

26. Spelling 'at home,' is able to remove the top of Victoria (11)

▶ Down

2. It is sworn on as the ends are removed (4)

3. The mating-game shows he's involved in curious extremes (5)

4. The otters are up, with no right to an aggressive tussle (3-2)

5. A wicked-o upset for the oil-supplier? (5)

6. Holy rooting about, in which flight patterns may be studied (11)

7. Pampers Dad around the East county, in short (7-4)

11. Assert one is held by a creature fast shut up (5)

12. Rome's flower chewed up with some hesitation (5)

14. Wander about and gaze at nothing in the keeping of a Scotsman (4)

15. Was produced, naturally, having been carried, soundly (4)

19. Booster’s inside, left on ice (5)

21. Roughly an item in an evening of wrestling (5)

22. Younger son in training at RMA perhaps (5)

23. It's weight that will almost put an end to you, nothing more (4)