DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES Across

1 Lace Liam draped round

shrub (8)

6 Manager sobs wildly (4)

8 Albert sent back a hat for the

woolly beast (6)

9 Impasse, record spread (6)

10 After late ending, silly

mishap’s causing stress (8)

13 Stir and cut (4) 14 US bureau contains a claw

here in Spain (9)

17 Clasps part of snakes (4)

18 Again I mark log with

weight (8)

19 Smear gold and black on

divan (6)

21 Quick look at the bird (6)

23 Prepare during an

expedition (4) 24 Performed in the open-air as if in a play (5,3)

Down

2 Lob map over with

self-assurance (6)

3 Greek letter hidden

by secret agent (3)

4 Usurer mistook lark

on ash (4,5)

5 Excellent student to

be indisposed (3)

6 Start throwing away contents, for example (9)

7 Event designed to

raise the spirits (6)

11 Principal teacher to begin with an initial advantage (4,5)

12 Draw attention to 1 strange plot coming into view (9)

15 Rise up like many

over conclusion (6)

16 Possibly get a gold

finish on cake (6)

20 Item of clothing

found in club raid (3)

22 Show agreement when lecturer about (3)

QUICK CLUES

Across

Stretch of road where stopping is not allowed (8)

6 Keystone ___, incompetent

police in silent movies (4)

8 Edible shellfish (6)

9 Lowly assistant (6)

10 Luring (8)

13 Imitates (4)

14 Down-to-earth (9)

17 Contradict (4)

18 Aching (for) (8)

19 Loose Japanese-style robe (6)

21 Menace, danger (6)

23 My ___ Lady, film musical (4)

24 Predict, prophesy (8)

Down

2 Leaf used to make

honorary wreaths (6)

3 Chump (3)

4 Eagerly (9)

5 Large root similar to

the potato (3)

6 Spread of disease (9)

7 Validated (6)

11 Person attending a social

gathering (5-4)

12 Underwriter (9)

15 Back of the eye (6)

16 Bring on as

a consequence (6)

20 Gone bad (3)

22 Brown rodent (3)