CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Extreme racist worried Democrat at the front (7) 5 Shrinks question trouble in America (6) 9 Release TV at no charge (3,4) 10 A uniform part circling head of evangelist? (7) 11 One side of Lord’s past its sell-by date? (3) 12 Treat old animal to drink (11) 13 Conservative comes in to draw money (5) 14 Suffering mother tackles outbreak of dry rot (9) 16 A drunk lady hugs male worker with conviction (9) 17 This country upset party’s prestige (5) 19 Superior nappies destroyed in NHS, causing despair (11) 22 It’s pointless driving away one carrier (3) 23 Vehicle professional removed from semicircle (7) 24 Writer and expert describing intro to novel ‘Atonement’ (7) 26 Small fish pong (6) 27 Periodic table item, last of very dry spirit I swallowed (7)

DOWN

1 I’d worked with Poles, getting sack (7) 2 Pump on bypass hit trailer – facia smashed (10,5) 3 Mariner finally hit centre of Mars (3) 4 Visibly embarrassed, probing firm statement of beliefs (5) 5 Two pints in the morning without a magazine (9) 6 Woman left, demoted due to hearing (5) 7 Advanced in oil or fantastically expert in it? (8,2,5) 8 Change club in London (6) 12 Stadium takes an age to climb (5) 14 Top woman’s time in shabby armchair (9) 15 My key is misplaced (5) 16 University in a metropolis? Smart thinking (6) 18 Light problem limits northern airline once (7) 20 Aid for climber operating under mine (5) 21 Useless odd type keeping minutes (5) 25 Clear goal (3)