CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Clever, fiery person, one with many good ideas (6,5)

9 Drive out swimmer accepting ten pence (5) 10 One performing duties for a salary paid magistrate (11)

11 Evie’s extraordinary riddle (5) 12 Number of persons operate vehicle frame (8)

14 Something essential extracted from citrus plant (5,3)

15 Officer in charge holding processed grain that is natural (7)

17 In which direction to what? (7)

20 Tram vandalised in entrance to park (8) 21 Although weakened, I’m about to be paid out (8)

24 First person in France trapped Lou struggling with little energy (5) 25 Fundamental indication of a square root (7,4)

26 Lady, one entering narrow strait (5) 27 Unpicking(11)

DOWN

2 Not all the allowance, just a proportion (5) 3 Man holding very soft fish (5)

4 Cooking at indoor extravaganza (8)

5 Spike right in awkward situation (7)

6 Seek Tony out having chief element (8) 7 Instrument coming from remote deeps (11) 8 Of aristocratic descent _ like lobsters? (4-7)

DEREK ALLEN 12 Where to see the other side of a funny story, it’s worrying (6,1,4)

13 Guys Leonard confused in a perilous way (11)

16 Found out how many stupefied deer were frolicking (8)

18 Partner to assist friend (8)

19 Opening new codifier, date missing (7) 22 Map part of main settlement (5)

23 Beg gondolier to contain his urge (3,2)