£50 PRIZE CROSSWORD

1 Spiky plants can always cause terrible irritations initially (5) 4 Drive the cool van round to see Mount Stromboli perhaps (7) 8 Defeats yours truly? I can’t figure out the answer (5,2) 9 A big American elk or wee Scots nibbler (5) 10 Depression from Memphis music and rhythm’s partner (5) 11 Determined to commit a crime, say, in a canvas shelter (6) 14 Highly skilled and accomplished in a small department (5) 16 The busy baker gets a short rest from the work (5) 18 Declare MacKay’s cutback is to get a selfie device (6) 21 Perspiration from some climbs we attempted (5) 24 A pool of money to buy drinks – or a wee cat (5) 25 Ant’s TV mate returned over the hill and relaxed (7) 26 Bust up sects looking for the possible perpetrator (7) 27 Georgia is definitely dizzy? Yes, first and foremost, light-headed (5)

DOWN

1 A junior Scout on the 4th of November will get one of Mr Rubik’s brain-teasers (4) 2 This is an illegal drug from a silly guy, Mr Sheen (7) 3 Carefully examine the condition of the new pins, etc (7) 4 The opinion that Stevie Wonder tries to keep hidden (4) 5 A piece of fruit from the chopped melon (5) 6 Nobody with you – and no ale being brewed (5) 7 Drive past another vehicle and transport the ark to Eve (8) 12 Rat upset Jack (3) 13 Savoury biscuits made in Scotland and, oddly, Osaka, etc (8) 15 The creepy US short-story guy ripped up one opening (3) 16 Rolling a ball on the lawn in a West Dunbartonshire village (7) 17 Sent a quick message – there’s fresh limeade (7) 19 Fingerless gloves are primarily made in Taiwan, they say (5) 20 Corey crashed into car pioneer Rolls’ engineering partner (5) 22 Maybe a Glasgow person is dwelling in the Caithness cottage (4) 23 Very nervy and jittery on the brink of a precipice? (4)