DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES:

Across

3. Fail to take an opportunity, we hear - that's bad luck (9) 8. One among many returning to work (4) 9. Kind of paper that could be blank! (9) 10. Old commercial traveller who gets the sack? (6) 11. Bird song of little account is heard (5) 14. Vague description of furniture cover (5) 15 & 24Dn. No precarious perch, politically speaking (4,4) 16. Aegean location, one hears, where ships are anchored offshore (5) 18. Imposes restrictions on cup matches (4) 20. Factory installation put in the garden (5) 21. Kind of insect to hold fast (5) 24. Either he won't go or he keeps going! (6) 25. People's relations (9) 26. Make an allotment in home territory (4) 27. I'm to provide the cue to you, we hear, off the cuff (9)

Down

1. Firmness of character shown by good man with skill (9) 2. They determine the causes of illfeelings (9) 4. Terrible one near the forefront of battle (4) 5. Don't miss a trick (5) 6. Strange ideas with the first of several oblique remarks (6) 7. They are engaged in engineering (4) 9. The best performer with this will win the toss (5) 11. Expert needed to work out the code (5) 12. Incapacitated - lay spread out! (9) 13. Cowboy film addict? (9) 17. They were once assumed to go round low joints (5) 19. He operates as a fireman (6) 22. The fascination of Minehead after tea (5) 23. A barrier to economic prosperity? (4) 24. See 15 Across

QUICK CLUES: Across

3. Repulsive (9) 8. Follow (4) 9. Competitor (9) 10. Look (6) 11. Skulk (5) 14. Big ship (5) 15. Origin (4) 16. Tap (5) 18. Silk belt (4) 20. Thread (5) 21. Taut (5) 24. Tic (6) 25. Catering (9) 26. Tramp (4) 27. Impecunious (9)

Down

1. Make steady (9) 2. Insincere (9) 4. Nail (4) 5. Senior (5) 6. Steering gear (6) 7. Observe (4) 9. Teller (5) 11. Strangle (5) 12. Contamination (9) 13. Support (9) 17. Familiar (5) 19. Paradise (6) 22. Rope fibre (5) 23. Incite (4) 24. Pitch (4)