LONDON TIMES CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 Insects place wings in this (7) 5 Warship topped by British fighter (7) 9 No place for second in film contest (3) 10 Suffer drinking tea and start to exhibit pain (7,4) 11 Fool and Lear, say, show no resentment (4,2,4,4) 13 Libertines pinching youngster’s food items (8)

15 The one that went to market on foot? (3,3)

17 Fire’s gone out, almost cold inside (6)

18 Sudden changes of mind about penalties (8) 20 Senseless, as Van Helsing was (3,3,3,5) 23 Stunt spread in papers as expected (11) 24 Sign a letter as it is read out (3) 25 Helter-skelter or rapid delivery by chute (7)

26 Put Dawson in a show, perhaps for keeps (7)

Down

1 More than one can rock when running the Conservatives (10)

2 Verify chip in bill-paying situation (8,7) 3 America charging liner reduced fare from Asia (5) 4 Increasingly polluted sewer emptied, saving pet cat (8) 5 Guiding light European inspired by an artist (6) 6 A pin-up, her novel reveals less content (9) 7 International body in US, iconic, involved with cruelty (8,7) 8 Regretted being impolite on the phone (4)

12 Who mount gemstones for luxury travellers? (3-7) 14 Craftsman provided to cut work of a painter and decorator (9) 16 Inadequate jerk going after film pioneer (8) 19 Support for new setter? (4,2) 21 Lawyers getting firm on closing bars (5) 22 Reporter’s caught out by a challenge (4)