WEEKEND CROSSWORD

NO.3339

Dear Reader,

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic we are suspending competition entries for all our prize crosswords.

Puzzles will continue to appear as normal but no entries will be accepted or prizes given.

We hope to return to normal as soon as possible.

The solution to this week’s cryptic crossword will appear next Saturday as usual.

Stay safe!

Joy Yates, Editorial Director

Across

1 Reserve found prickly seedcase in

outlying district (6)

4 Surlier question included about

rodent (8)

9 Powerless to reproduce nebula (6) 10 General worker, agent losing

right to join corporation (8)

12 Lots come down here (5,7)

15 Errors I’ve corrected in area

where water has gathered (9)

17 House call (5)

18 Nothing repeatedly almost round

(5)

19 Deleted it out of legal document

(5,4)

20 Without payment release from

accusation (4,2,6)

24 Same ship’s remarkable

prominence (8)

25 Load software in a way almost

everybody followed (6)

26 Be small to depreciate (8)

27 Mostly innocent had come back

from seclusion (6)

Down

1 Take necessary action to prevent

rows (10)

2 Mole, it’s delightful on one’s body!

(6,4)

3 Inside corral, philosophical fellow

(5)

5 25 per cent of employees have

post (12)

6 Facing difficulty in time with

money (2,7)

7 Correct-sounding ceremonial act

(4)

8 Up he comes for fruit (4)

11 Nothing out of the ordinary in race

(3-2-3-4)

13 Tar endured punishment having

had too low an opinion of it (10) 14 Toast enjoyed by those who have

it (4,6)

16 Bird’s colourful part of body! (9) 21 Behind us surrounding Indian (5) 22 Edge of wicker basket (4)

23 Ring friend for something

precious (4)