THE CROSSWORDS

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Possibly meant to go round some accommodation (9)

8 Is to prosecute in spring (5)

9 Aviation spirit (7)

10 New jokes about political leader in Macedonia (6)

11 Tool from the work-bench I seldom use (6)

12 Frightening the French into preparing for war (8)

15 He may be back in the team (8)

18 Such a pupil is likely to shine (6)

20 Believe one side of the account (6) 21 Troops reconstructing a bridge (7)

22 An odd type of route (5)

23 Motorists won’t be slow to fall into it (5,4)

DOWN

2 The rest of the birds and fish (5) 3 Concerning a girl that’s careless (6)

4 Sea and shore - or just the shore (8) 5 Watch your heart (6)

6 Space - it turns out to be germ-free (7) 7 Cleaner appears to put a fellow off (9) 11 Musical live wire (9)

13 Tune carried aloft (8)

14 Consequences of property (7)

16 Is included amongst those who are against rumours (6)

17 Perhaps gifted young scholars may be told not to (6)

Hardy variety of monster (5)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Without hurry (2,7)

8 To sham (5)

9 Compel observance of (7) 10 Older (6)

11 Make a journey (6) 12 Originate (8)

15 Remote and impersonal (8) 18 2nd sign of zodiac (6) 20 Have reference (6)

21 Toned down (7)

22 Distant in manner (5) 23 Courage in endurance (9)

DOWN

2 General purport (5) 3 Develop (6)

4 Similar things (8)

5 Bring about (6) 6 Negligible (7) 7 Behindhand (2,7) 11 Retaliation in kind (3,3,3) 13 Teach (8)

14 A marine mollusc (7) 16 Treated leniently (3,3) 17 An authority (6) 19 Overturn (5)