DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

3 Decides not to go on producing burnt sack (5,4) 8 Almost drain a pitcher (4) 9 Thinks time and dates are wrong (9)

10 His instruction is brief (6) 11 Cut from the wedding cake (5)

14 Finishing off a cake? (5) 15 Fail to keep up a legend (4)

16 One of a crowd of actors – no less! (5)

18 Sound reflection (4)

20 Compare fifty-one with knowledge (5)

21 It may be pledged to a future partner (5)

24 Two companies joining together on a silk product (6)

25 Act as a dismantler? (4,5)

26 It’s employed in various editions (4)

27 Ban a professional writer (9)

DOWN

1 Canned – as sardines are! (4-5)

2 By which the fisherman’s catch is measured? (3,6)

4 Employer states with hesitation (4)

5 Presumably there’s a sound reason for it (5)

6 They cut dashing figures (6)

7 The character to fix the pitch (4)

9 Get involved in someone else’s business? (5)

11 Something wrong with a knot? (5)

12 Is it never found in light cavalry? (4,5)

13 Hostile fire one can and does get involved in (9)

17 A tax return to distribute (5)

19 Holy commands? (6)

22 He often lifts his glass to each (5)

23 Soft melody for two (4) 24 Some credit goes to a sailor for providing seafood (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS 3 Accompanying (9) 8 Standard measure (4)

9 Involved (9)

10 Plan (6)

11 Protection (5)

14 Scope (5)

15 Tax (4)

16 Not heavy (5)

18 Catalogue (4)

20 Boxing ring (5) 21 Habitual drinker (5)

24 Invent (6)

25 Speaks to (9)

26 Dregs (4)

27 Timing device (9)

DOWN 1 Superficially (9)

2 Fraudulent (9)

4 Melody (4)

5 Weird (5)

6 Deception (6)

7 Observe (4)

9 Urge (5)

11 Ire (5)

12 Now and again (9)

13 Uncomfortable (3-2-4)

17 Stories (5)

19 Sultry (6)

22 Artist’s stand (5) 23 Thought (4)

24 Lairs (4)