DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES: Across

3. Push to the newspaper office (5,4) 8. Returning a bit of gin? (4) 9. Suddenly everyone appeared at the same time (3,2,4) 10. Steal the Spanish coin (6) 11. A lot of ships are fast (5) 14. Religious instruction writer has to mature (5) 15. Precipitation from Iran? (4) 16. Possibly has a knock-out hat (5) 18. A trial of brute strength (4) 20. The best 100 on paper (5) 21. Mean to be drunk (5) 24. Colour with abandon (6) 25. Feeling it will create enormous interest (9) 26. A propensity for being crooked (4) 27. Asking for the umpire's decision is attractive (9)

Down

1. Whatever the speed, anyhow (2,3,4) 2. Parade when April arrives (5,4) 4. Sound part of a bap (4) 5. Stop the engine and play for time (5) 6. Owl's nose (6) 7. Creatures taking the motorway to church (4) 9. A nose runs for a long time (5) 11. A sumptuous meal for Easter? (5) 12. See an insurance salesman and seek shelter (4,5) 13. Where a record will be kept shortly (2,1,6) 17. Once a strange sea (5) 19. Material found in suites (6) 22. The French put up with very warm inn (5) 23. He gets a record by the Beatles (4) 24. Complain when a chap has eaten nothing (4)

QUICK CLUES: Across

3. Untidily (9) 8. Status (4) 9. Heavy (9) 10. Involve (6) 11. Sketch (5) 14. Loft (5) 15. Gratis (4) 16. Heather (5) 18. Attractive (4) 20. Gift (5) 21. Be (5) 24. Mercury (6) 25. Shelter (4,5) 26. Formerly (4) 27. Thankfulness (9)

Down

1. Complaint (9) 2. Establish (9) 4. Chilly (4) 5. Beneath (5) 6. Distant (3-3) 7. Praise (4) 9. Bit (5) 11. Gist (5) 12. Handling (9) 13. Miserable (9) 17. Following (5) 19. Barring (6) 22. Pourer (5) 23. Equitable (4) 24. Commander (4)