CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

3. Gruesome ‘Hound’ twin in murder mystery (9) 8. A cider seen as somewhat tart (4) 9. He’s mad about confectionery (5,4) 10. Team with which the Spanish get level? (6) 11. A cap in November - etiquette, apparently (5) 14. In a string quartet, the one with the biggest belly (5) 15. Distribute timber (4) 16. Have the audacity to veer off after the North (5) 18. A nip’s almost a

measure (4) 20. Occasions for

Xmas fruit (5) 21. Ever being shortened, that is weird (5) 24. Threaten to cane

me? (6) 25. Cut down mischievous shaver, Eddie (9) 26. A revolutionary

who’s a pain (4) 27. With limited vision, misled biker, Ned, about learner (9)

DOWN

1. Used for securing leaves? (5,4) 2. Place for burning sack and soft, fine material (9) 4. Trumpet in French or Norwegian (4) 5. Ambition to be a motorist (5) 6. Pinched and scored (6) 7. Causing blobs when chopped top off little finger (4) 9. Said to have come down on criminal (5) 11. Push way on to

boat (5) 12. After trial, pair visit

cricket event (4,5) 13. Smoothed over

when drunk (9) 17. Nicked and taken

to the border (5) 19. Ah, Eve fell - with a bearing on paradise (6) 22. Dispute over

offspring (5) 23. Dance with a

bouncer! (4) 24. Only a lake (4)