CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS 1 Sour thing, finding crustacean on tree (4,5) 8 Catches wild hares (5) 10 Land is small nuisance (5) 12 Ready for collection (3) 13 Number of contents (3) 14 Lost out a great deal (4) 15 Bear to destroy head wear (6) 16 Lois mad about key heroes (5) 18 I would appear in battle for 24 hours (6) 20 Collapsed around part of church (4) 22 Mug went back for glue (3) 23 Honest about quantity (3) 24 Lures away from edicts (5) 25 Total state (5) 26 Turned tepid only in a cutting way (9) DOWN

2 Criticise Sunday dinner (5) 3 Top bets are lost (4) 4 Plot is involving a gun (6) 5 The French worker slanted (5) 6 Barrage on the beach? (9) 7 At home, a religious man finds listeners owing money (2,7) 9 Occupy university, including bit that’s left (7) 11 Nice without large yokel (7) 15 Grab oysters with youngster (3) 17 Barriers no problem for fruit (6) 19 Big look around construction (5) 21 Plate shaped like part of flower (5) 23 Housed around river (4)