Two-speed coffeebreak

Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same.

Cryptic clues

ACROSS

1 Merits new title (6)

4 Notice blemish (4)

7 Terribly neat feature of

Sicily (4)

8 Fastening in series (6)

9 It’s a spilt drink (4)

10 Pam’s struggling with

amount of electricity (4)

12 Late ordering story (4)

14 Amphibian of hefty

interior (3)

16 Crawler when quiet (3)

17 Sailor’s last order (4)

20 Now editors have been

obliged (4)

23 Slow down without right to

make pastry (4)

24 Proper to put notes next to

coin (6)

25 Pleased with relaxation (4) 26 Danger irks terribly (4)

27 Steal unfortunate result (6)

DOWN

1 Commiserated with mean

person (5)

2 Arrange by type (4)

3 Tsar, e.g. Alexander,

disguised as a king (5)

4 Crack a game (4)

5 Went by and didn’t fail (6)

6 Turn to dance (5)

11 Gibson, say, has a feast (4) 13 Collapsed round part of holy

place (4)

15 Lectured on small radii (6)

16 Bream changed colour (5) 18 Snake now turns up red (5) 19 Illuminated concerning

quantity (5)

21 Diluted for seven days,

say (4)

22 Point stew out (4)

Solutions in next week’s Sunday Mirror

Quick clues

ACROSS

DOWN

1 Term of respect (6) 1 Skinflint (5)

4 Venue (4) 2 Kind (4)

7 European volcano (4) 3 Royal (5)

8 Twine (6) 4 Break (4)

9 Sparkling wine (4) 5 Elapsed (6)

10 Units of current (4) 6 Contort (5)

12 Fable (4)

11 Repast (4)

14 Newt (3)

13 Church recess (4) 16 Serpent (3)

17 Seasoning (4) 15 Wheel parts (6)

20 Was indebted to (4) 16 Fossil resin (5)

23 Cook in the oven (4) 18 Viper (5)

24 Seemly (6) 19 Liquid measure (5) 25 Simplicity (4) 21 Feeble (4)

26 Gamble (4) 22 Compass

27 Leaves’ noise (6) direction (4) Solutions in next week’s Sunday Mirror