Crossword

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Comfortable copper retiring (5) 4 Mostly guarded about our bravery (7) 8 Shade, for example, put back – causes resentment (7) 9 Preceding graduates of the French writer (5) 10 West Country city nevertheless upset washing vessel (7) 12 Five in dance make merry (5) 14 Footballer from Norway, no eye defect (5,6) 18 Yes, a sanctimonious creature (5) 19 Small country hotel’s turning circle (7) 21 Big round ovals warped (5) 23 Managed to get rid of loot (7) 24 Smart accepting silver for theatrical production (7) 25 Fish had a nasty odour (5)

DOWN

1 Crumbles without the French bread fragments (6) 2 Reserves raised a cake with lower layers (9) 3 Brewing agent from Skye, a stickler (5) 4 Snooker stick in line, it’s said (3) 5 Experience last of parade ground manoeuvres (7) 6 Member to provide weapons (3) 7 When I enter city without a problem (6) 11 Jewel found amongst robbery loot (5) 13 One Venetian travels to capital (9) 15 Robinia cultivated for African city (7) 16 Perches up in nest, so organised (6) 17 Vegetable that’s out of this world! (6) 20 Head of sales objects to broadcasts (5) 22 Spring doesn’t end at meadow (3) 23 Fix oil platform (3)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Increased (5) 4 Individual open pie (7) 8 Deep-seated enmity (7) 9 Striped Asian cat (5) 10 Common ice-cream flavour (7) 12 Brother of your father (5) 14 Boy or girl pupil (11) 18 Small shoot (5) 19 Well-fortified defence (7) 21 Urge, encourage (3,2) 23 Travelling amusement rides (7) 24 Colourful historical procession (7) 25 Choice cut of beef (5)

DOWN

1 Reach your destination (6) 2 Train’s eating area (6,3) 3 Dribble (5) 4 Rocky peak (3) 5 Improve (a painting or photo) (7) 6 Slang word for ‘ear’ (3) 7 Production aim (6) 11 Unrehearsed reply (2-3) 13 Reach an end (9) 15 Fine muslin (7) 16 Slumbering (6) 17 Warm hooded jacket (6) 20 Nasal cavity (5) 22 Stage joke (3) 23 Plump (3)