CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

15 845

Across

6. Groom: ‘Ooh, do hurry less!’ (4,4,6) 9. Central vein or main artery bird retracted (6) 10. Scorn politician ousting son in competition (8) 11. Pedant inserts line in poster (8) 13. Mysterious component of sugar cane (6) 15. Superior sailor pursued by Elizabeth (6) 17. Absorb writer’s authoritative book lecturer ignored (6) 19. MacKenzie’s ill, shedding skin, suffering this? (6) 20. Very dark fancy belt carried by sailor (3,5) 22. Highly fruitful professor rings student, one in charge (8) 24. Medium club covers constant very short distance (6) 26. Revered political figure says crew follows Bush (5,9)

Down

1. Dickens work lacking a seasonal air (9,5) 2. Slight indistinct feature of speech (4) 3. Unruly boys left, grabbing Mark’s badge (6) 4. Priest sadly hasn’t a minute to create illusion (8) 5. Loosen sort of knot close to top (4) 7. Release corn milled in this country (6) 8. Claim against this former writer’s English story? (7,7) 12. Flex half of muscle protecting abs mostly (5) 14. Cold? I’ll put central heating on (5) 16. Marine animal first has to be transported (8) 18. What deters European plane circling top of crater area? (6) 21. Row about doctor’s trees (6) 23. German song told a story (4) 25. Search valley, missing nothing (4)