daily double

the hard way

ACROSS 1 It is used to secure broken china (5) 4 Ambitious to lead (2-5) 8 Frequently coming round on foot? (3) 9 Its ups and down may be studied by the pilot (4,5) 10 Private point to hide (7) 11 Advertises electrical fittings (5) 13 Seats lost so need to be replaced (6) 15 Shy and put out when red spots appear (6) 18 Northern region about to hold sporting events (5) 19 Officer’s responsibility given to the men (7) 21 A dog hunts? This sort does (9) 23 Subscription owing (3) 24 Apparently an off-day for twelve (7) 25 They operate at different levels (5) DOWN 1 No longer in common use (7) 2 By the way (2,7) 3 Highly unpleasant person (5) 4 Neat and trim in appearance (6) 5 Accidentally reveal (3,4) 6 Charge for a service (3) 7 Metric unity of capacity (5) 12 Man-made (9) 14 Discernment (7) 16 Absorb attention of (7) 17 Intellectually clever (6) 18 Twist forcibly (5) 20 Unsympathetic (5) 22 Signal for action (3)

the easy way

ACROSS 1 First sign of the zodiac (5) 4 Sad (7) 8 Surpass (3) 9 Intolerant (9) 10 Severely simple (7) 11 Fine smooth cotton thread (5) 13 Fault-finder (6) 15 Type of light cake (6) 18 Regular payment for services (5) 19 Inconsiderate selfish driver (4,3) 21 With one’s identity concealed (9) 23 Moreover (3) 24 Very much (7) 25 Centre of attention (5) DOWN 1 Incorrect signs (7) 2 Take choir in new version to follow ‘Jerusalem’ (9) 3 Can get upset about chemical (5) 4 Incorrectly tagged labour-saving device (6) 5 A spy out making personal observation (7) 6 Go out but be up to start breakfast (3) 7 Two-party fights (5) 12 Found her a problem and totally obscure (7-2) 14 Lead on? (7) 16 A send-up on board produces melancholy (7) 17 Busy tenant (6) 18 It’s a crime; so ran when disturbed (5) 20 Design a miniature (5) 22 An attempt in the past (3)