CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

7 Scene of combat a long time back (5) 8 Raids on raids, perhaps (7) 9 Relatively gentle colour? (7) 10 A first-class colour spread abroad (5) 12 They go on fast, on water only (10) 15 Loyalties that are relatively important (6,4) 18 Delete the first letter in Gaelic (5) 19 Results of lobbing? (7)

21 Assemble for prayer (7) 22 She puts quite a lot of ice in her beer (5)

DOWN

1 Standing charge for car-drivers (7,3) 2 Designed by Manet, perhaps (5) 3 Fine opportunity for entertainment (4) 4 It may be used to sort out a difficult problem (6)

5 Introduction before a stroll? (8) 6 Good route for a long-distance driver (7) 11 Died with heart strain – in great pain? (10) 13 Didn’t take things in a big way (8) 14 Friendly question of what I can do (7) 16 One invests in them and hopes (6) 17 Reliable firm (5) 20 Sang out in difficulty (4)