CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

3 Adding a very soft conclusion (9)

8 Partly open a container (4) 9 Political group’s tactics involving fun at social? (5,4) 10 Place of abundance? (6)

11 Bet what is earned – right? (5) 14 Make saner approaches (5) 15 Term of affection costing a lot (4)

16 Places to which the group is returned (5)

18 They feature in more than half the ballads (4)

20 Steer around the wood (5) 21 Quiet about fortune acquired in indolence (5)

24 Prohibit file in handcart (6) 25 Only Milan fashion in name (9) 26 Satisfactory exhibition (4) 27 Caught in the act of employing Communists? (3-6)

DOWN

1 It may be a gem, but it’s very painful! (9)

2 Support hospital organisation in reverse (9)

4 Drama is clearly not a serious matter (4)

5 Additional part of complex training programme (5)

6 Closely followed, being obstinate (6)

7 Call mean? (4)

9 Bear heavily on newspapers (5) 11 Idle talk with a pole for a spell of duty (5)

12 Listens in genuine practice (9) 13 Angry utterance provides a puzzle (9)

17 Remain about right, but wander (5)

19 Toboggan could kill, we hear (6)

22 Coach the retinue (5)

23 The book comes my way (4) 24 Coming out of it is quite unexpected (4)

Yesterday’s solutions:

Across: 1 Sole. 3 Singular. 8 Mate. 9 Assonant. 11 Brother-in-law. 13 Dynamo. 14 Object. 17 Vice-chairman. 20 Presided. 21 Drop. 22 Delights. 23 Left.

Down: 1 Somebody. 2 Let-down. 4 Insert. 5 Groundbait. 6 Llama. 7 Rite. 10 Shimmering. 12 Stone pit. 15 Elm tree. 16 Threat. 18 Ideal. 19 Sped.