THE CRYPTIC:

ACROSS

1. Wild bear right beside Australian territory – incongruous! (8)

6. Part of the foot keeping correct time? (6)

9. African beast – hybrid designed for walkers (5,8)

10. Madly aspire to adulation (6) 11. Polish one – try for a pure one! (8)

13. Paint alone? Wrong – for this sweet three colours are needed (10)

15. A lot of breeze headed off for the 500 race (4)

16. Backward, crazy – knock

unconscious (4)

18. Haircutters dance – may include a quartet! (6,4)

21. Passes over stern and bigoted conservatives (8)

22. Taxes former deeds (6)

23. I require a late meal (6,7)

25. Fireplace – centre hot! (6)

26. Getting caught making

sausages? (8)

DOWN

2. Weird market report (7) 3. A drink for lagomorphs? But it’s against the rules (6,5) 4. Surprise! A 14! (5)

5. Pain more terrible in explosive compound (7)

6. Take cover – use care in sun (9)

7. Italians say yes round a thousand for winter sport (3) 8. New angle, but initially no deal for the northern nation (7)

12. Popular in days gone by, a ruler is meticulous (11)

14. Bar thinly explored, but it’s hard to find your way out! (9) 17. Attempts time and English in Italian city (7)

19. Fights against difficult sisters (7)

20. Goon act performed in regular

shape (7)

22. Occasional actor – may be

wide of the mark (5)

24. Former foreign minister not

right for the vehicle (3)

Solution next week