CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Bit of land anyone can use isn’t rare (6)

4. They cut south: cross is made for them (8)

9. The Admiral is in the hold (6)

10. Point to India, etc, incorrectly (8) 12. Meddle with its inert free form (9) 13. Parasite used in a callous experiment (5)

14. Tightness of strict NCO in trouble about nothing (12)

18. They are the setting for minor events around the North (12)

21. Accommodate one of us with hoe maybe (5)

22. It will make things clear if éclair turns out right (9)

24. All of it makes about fifty small craft (8)

25. No burn perhaps is not yet brought into existence (6)

26. They dig up the bed out of greed when among doctors (8)

27. Band round top of wall will get very cold, one hears (6)

DOWN

1. Satisfy one it is true: bout a hundred connive at it (8)

2. Active in support of cause, man lit it this way (8)

3. Smell will be sufficient, in our setting (5)

5. It’s customary, at a nunnery, for one to take out loan (12)

6. Even now there’s space for a housekeeper’s pantry (9)

7. There is, in a shop, a queue one can’t see through (6)

8. What Wesker wrote about a meatpin (6)

11. It is half round the circus I’m Lear, perhaps (12)

15. Playing about with nitre, king might be (9)

16. It noted a different answer to poison (8)

17. With anger, set out to alienate one’s affections (8)

19. Teased half-heartedly, it gets worn by rubbing (6)

20. A craze for our half-French arrangement (6)

23. Meal without a starter may yet satisfy this man (5)