CRYPtIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Routine with a sack and a vegetable (8)

5 One wearing stiff orange coiffure (6)

9 Mail bag returned, strangely, in mysterious area (7,8) 11 Starters for Toronto ran into Edmonton’s defence and took a shot (5) 12 Italian artist put on a ring, catching snitch (9) 13 Sorceress carrying candle wandering around set of steps (6,5)

18 Mind one maid shifting cache of gems (7,4) 21 Evaluating farm animals, raise your voice harmoniously (9) 23 Heard calm musical work (5) 24 Gala quarters, far off in a part of London (9,6) 25 Inquire after mother’s linen fabric (6) 26 Follower of her, in a depression (8) By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

DOWN

1 Take love mannerisms for a subject of science fiction (8)

2 Rows involving stray dogs (8)

3 Tied up, jump (5) 4 Imposing alum holding centre of attention (5)

6 A role he and I had in racist policy (9) 7 Delight about big storm at sea (6) 8 Washington neighbour riding in offshore gondola (6)

10 Collide with ruin, not badly (3,4) 14 Fifty poems on sailor’s guiding lights (9)

15 Be boring about victory in lottery (7)

16 Able to read “lo-cal” price (8) 17 Doctrine about guys in slum building (8)

19 Was Theodore more than tipsy? (6)

20 As close as angry bees? (6) 22 Wounded by a bull, get bloody (5)

23 Take a look, upon hearing fit of anger (5)