CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

8 Standing mail service to Russian mountains ... (8)

9 ... a minor route in Europe, for instance, where ... (6)

10 ... postal worker picks up auxiliary rockets (6)

11 Horror movie’s musical intervals feature two keys (3,5)

12 Tiny piece of chariot actually fell out (4) 13 and 20 State of the art sees everyone having a musical party (3-7, 3-7) 15 Disconcerted by an attempt to end heartlessly (7)

17 Religious organisation poised to strike about union (4,3)

20 See 13

22 Sweet, not sharp at first (4)

24 Stops the boat to pour out the soave (6,2) 26 Taken with milk in one country, to the sound of encouragement in another (2,4) 27 Skilful hunter gets game with fishing gear (6) 28 Scottish ice ages discovery in volcanic craters? (8)

DOWN

1 Give up the spilling of gore (6)

2 Famous actor was playing Romeo in sci-fi movie (4,4)

3 Eg slater puts an acclaimed winner on surface (10)

4 That no-one kept their mouth shut added up (3,4)

5 Not be advising caution about type of pottery (4)

6 Making a mistake in cutting head off fish (6) 7 Accomplished man included on equal terms _ sorry! (6,2)

14 Mischief maker with dodgy gun fit subject to question concerning ... (10)

16 ... regular report of gunshot at place of residence (8)

18 Self-styled friendly gathering I left when it was in the van (2-6) 19 King voiced misgivings about splitting up (7)

21 Contrived to free prisoner and reform to change course (6)

23 To accept boy in test is clannish (6) 25 Fizzy drink opens with sizzle of dry air (4)