CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Annoying smoker I disturbed (7) 5 Realisation sinks in it belongs to Ms French (5) 8 Friend is right into rabbit fur (5) 9 University has grain for fabulous beast (7) 10 You rub down M (8) 11 I led back to shop (4) 13 Saying noisy dog joins some police retreat (6) 15 Heiress annually holds back Egyptian leader (6) 18 Animal goes south on boat (4) 19 Assembly meets, holds back aid and acts as a peacemaker (8) 22 During June quality isn’t evenly matched (7) 23 Domesticates some bantam, especially (5) 24 Tried firm round the east (5) 25 Rushed off negotiating fifty obstacles (7)

DOWN

1 Urged popular edict to be changed (7) 2 Japanese city – Tokyo rebuilt (5) 3 Long journey, not unknown to us, for ancient king (8) 4 Horsey sweetheart repeatedly holds child of five (6) 5 Noisy author at the Irish parliament (4) 6 Speakers go to the dogs? (7) 7 Wrongdoing witnessed by one round a Biblical mount (5) 12 Cooler in the car, but warmer in the house (8) 14 Disease or ache perhaps? Left to be injected (7) 16 Is in stands and opposes (7) 17 Mend unfinished article with vigour (6) 18 Spades needed for green snow when melted (5) 20 Language in operetta millions speak (5) 21 Amount paid for seafood (non) starter (4)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

CRYPTIC - ACROSS: 1 Snooker 5 Swig 9 Aerosol 10 At sea 11 Greer 12 Elders 14 Isobar 16 Wealth 18 Review 19 Sheet 22 Again 23 Tacitly 24 Bull 25 Peasant DOWN: 2 Nurse 3 Observation 4 Eileen 6 Wastrel 7 Gear 8 Sangria 10 Andrew Sachs 13 Shut-eye 15 Overall 17 Swathe 20 Eaten 21 Jamb QUICK - ACROSS: 1 Close in 5 Idle 9 Antacid 10 Gnome 11 Siege 12 Effigy 14 Lethal 16 Twitch 18 Veneer 19 Alert 22 Adopt 23 Topside 24 Flop 25 Predate DOWN: 2 Lathe 3 Secret agent 4 Indeed 6 Drought 7 Even 8 Capsule 10 Gift-wrapped 13 Chutney 15 Tremolo 17 Orator 20 Evict 21 Half