DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES:

Across 1. European standard bearer (4) 3. See 9 Across 9, 23Ac & 3Ac. Make a tour of the firm and attend to personal affairs (2,5,4,8) 10. Awkwardly bears a weapon (5) 11. What drummers about to retire do (4,1,7) 13. One may become an agricultural freeholder (6) 15. Is the French writer acutely conscious of this? (6) 17 & 19Dn. Not given the benefit of a warm reception (4,3,2,3,4) 20. An exhortation to friends –

they may appear in the ring (5) 21. Man who is engaged about the end of the session to provide the wherewithal (7) 22. Bandage covering the body (8) 23. See 9 Across Down 1. They hold up the train on the

way to the match (8) 2. Fasten up a trailing plant (5) 4. In a variety of tunes one

dispenses with the strings (6) 5. Orders teaching before the

start of school (12) 6. Welcome a mining engineer returning with a tool used for drilling (7) 7. Notices a palindrome (4) 8. Near the capital of Belgium, partisans to get mixed up with Napoleon's men (12) 12. Increases some inclination (8) 14. Perform major work in the theatre? (7) 16. Bird showin' shortness of breath (6) 18. Saw a musical group on the rise (5) 19. See 17 Across Need help? To hear any solution or the full solutions call 0905 789 4250. Calls cost 80p per minute plus your network access charge. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390. QUICK CLUES: Across 1. Stitched (4) 3. Wretched (8) 9. Renew (7) 10. Tine (5) 11. Carrying out (12) 13. Contaminate (6) 15. Fatal (6) 17. Foreboding (12) 20. Indian garment (5) 21. Wander (7) 22. Curiosity (8) 23. Region (4) Down 1. Angelic (8) 2. Biscuit (5) 4. On land (6) 5. Suppositional (12) 6. Double (7) 7. Cautious (4) 8. Echo (12) 12. Extreme excitement (8) 14. Enraged (7) 16. Spite (6) 18. Senior (5) 19. Paradise (4)