TWO SPEED CROSSWORD

This two-speed crossword has two sets of clues, but just one grid. If you can’t solve the Cryptic clues, try the Quick.

Cryptic Across

3. Come to a halt and urgently demand the latest news (4,5) 8. Noted part of the service (4) 9. The others stay with Communist backing (9)

10. Not so far from a hundred and one having suffered defeat! (6) 11. Three points, alternatively a Spanish form of address (5) 14. Fired with high explosive – quick to move! (5) 15. Nothing more than a stretch of water (4)

16. To offer medical advice for a special occasion (5) 18. Quality of sound coming back in pure notes (4)

20. A beautiful flower came up (5) 21. See 5 Down

24. What keeps the joints of lamb warm (6)

25. Not completely in a biased manner (9)

26. Paid to do the catering (4)

27. Takes out of gear? (9)

Down

1. Food obtainable in bars (9)

2. To bring in an industrious worker is of considerable significance (9)

4. In the court I erected a row of seats (4)

5 & 21A Useful for surveying what

air passengers eat from! (5,5)

6. Charge the prisoner is held to (6) 7. Man with prospects? (4) 9. Trees put in a different place (5) 11. Kitchen utensil is fixed up the night before (5)

12. Got better – take out insurance in a rush! (9)

13. Allude to the conclusion by a number of plebiscites (9)

17. Correspond with a friend after tea (5)

19. Festival days are set in new arrangement (6)

22. More than one wire acts as a conductor! (5)

23. Fine material needed for a stretch of grass (4)

24. A common complaint, we hear, for the smoker! (4)

Quick Across

3. Newsflash (4,5) 8. Song of praise (4) 9. Part left (9) 10. Nearer (6) 11. Spaniard (5) 14. Supple (5) 15. Lake (4)

16. Gift (5) 18. Sound (4) 20. Originated (5) 21. Furniture item (5) 24. Coat of wool (6) 25. Incompletely (9) 26. Cater for (4) 27. Disrobes (9)

Down

1. Confectionery (9) 2. Valuable (9)

4. Rank (4) 5. Smoothing tool (5) 6. Kidnapper’s demand (6) 7. Prophet (4)

9. Clear (5) 11. Strainer (5) 12. Recouped (9) 13. Votes (9)

17. Agree (5) 19. Christian festival (6) 22. Guides (5) 23. Grassed area (4) 24. Chimney pipe (4)