CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

3 Repeat rum cocktail before time (9)

8 Someone else has the slippery customers (4)

9 Potentially explosive journals? (9) 10 Not just a United Nations fete (6) 11 Deadly pale, like a bird (5) 14 She’s a very long time getting round the north (5)

15 Revolted – could be a bloomer (4)

16 Pulls to pieces for crying (5) 18 Girl remains when 100 of the pupils leave (4)

20 Paved area by house is in occupation (5)

21 Get 20 points? (5)

24 Bustle around to take on an under-tenant (6)

25 Remember to gather again (9) 26 Write one’s name as evidence (4)

27 Area fenced off once 22 are broken (9)

DOWN

1 Worthy of being put again? (9) 2 Well-meant candour from two headlands (9)

4 Bring up what is behind (4) 5 Signifies the wherewithal (5) 6 He works hard – more than a lubricator (6)

7 Pipe animals up (4)

9 It blurs about 500 in the centre (5)

11 A labyrinth to astonish (5) 12 Yearning for what is past at closing (9)

13 Letting the authorities know about top ringer (9)

17 Speechify like a top US reformer? (5)

19 Where the pupils get bigger but never contract? (6)

22 Governs by regulations? (5) 23 Stitched at all four points (4) 24 The mark left almost causes a fright (4)