LONDON TIMES CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 Forecast operating cost must change (13) 10 Fictional character wandering around Peru with horse (9) 11 I deface cute deer’s feet (5) 12 American schoolgirl’s out of order (5) 13 Observe famous person in front of judge (9) 14 Being cut left a doctor and policeman outside hospital (4,4) 16 Butcher’s male goose (6) 19 Dispatched message to railway guard (6) 20 Urgent request for help follows commando finally joining desert rats (2-3-3)

22 One interrupts vendor shortly after stain is seen on fabric (9) 24 Request van after parking (5) 25 I grumble about biblical woman (5) 26 Couple after book — by him? (4,5) 27 Letter read out to staff is about final plans to acquire colony (6,7) Down

2 He makes good stuff (9) 3 Starts action on both sides in order to leave Europeans (5) 4 Char in charge of chef (8)

5 Put bits of bread at front of tunnel for cave-dwellers (6) 6 It’s painful to see Bill struggling in manacle (9) 7 Volunteer force takes politician over a US resort (5) 8 Foundation altering NHS timetables (13) 9 Marshal pens directive for senior politician (4,9) 15 Enjoy the present from Rome! (5,4) 17 Push aside pan and fish in wine (9) 18 Course it’s very controversial if I join environmentalists — mostly green (4,4)

21 Old priest’s extremely forgetful — so be it (6) 23 Port and nearly a carafe of wine (5) 24 Where you might find scavengers looking over bread (5)