TWO-WAY TEASER

Two sets of clues but the answers are the same

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 It’s frighteningly effective on the farm (9) 7 In age, soldiers don’t differ (5) 9 Relative who’s dear, tangling with thug (8) 11 Diving gear from point on West Indian island (5) 12 My tyre’s burst – it’s puzzling (7) 14 Bird on the end of a string? (4) 15 Some baddies will have to be killed! (3) 17 Ripped, we hear, from hilltop (3) 18 A number over graph line (4) 20 Where simple horticulture is taught? (7) 23 Getting down to deception? (5) 24 No mule is spattered with paint (8) 26 Read either way, long stories are the same (5) 27 Canny gadget for getting in! (3-6)

DOWN

2 Course assistant, we hear, leaves in it (5) 3 Resting – place for point in embedded part (5) 4 As a matter of course it’s difficult to get out of (3) 5 Vessel of his twisted in distortion (7) 6 It’s misguided to have rate sadly out of line (3,6) 8 It can turn out to be in gambler’s favour (8) 10 Instrument to keep going on (4) 12 I’m led, last off and unlikely to be winner! (9) 13 Transfixing pig with snare’s terrible (8) 16 Largest egg is round, covered in rough bits (7) 19 House, moon or stop (4) 21 Wading bird to shoot from hiding (5) 22 Mountains in north enveloped in storm (5) 25 Tea in it is part of your needs! (3)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Figure to frighten birds (9) 7 Concur (5) 9 A child (8) 11 Diving apparatus (5) 12 A whodunnit (7) 14 Bird of prey (4) 15 Cease to live (3) 17 Bare hill top (3) 18 Centre of rotation (4) 20 Day care for small children (7) 23 In a recumbent position (5) 24 Kind of paint (8) 26 Icelandic tales (5) 27 Kitchen gadget (3-6)

DOWN

2 Can for storing tea (5) 3 Disturb (5) 4 Dreary routine (3) 5 Vessel for combat (7) 6 Taught immoral behaviour to (3,6) 8 Gambling game played in casino (8) 10 String instrument (4) 12 Olympic Games winner (9) 13 Piercing with a weapon (8) 16 Largest (7) 19 Containing maximum capacity (4) 21 Shoot from hiding (5) 22 Area for shooting practice (5) 25 A vase (3)