Bridge and crossword

A prize of £15 in book tokens will be awarded for the first correct solution opened. Solutions must reach Crossword No 4556, country life, Pinehurst II, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF, by

Tuesday, November 27. UK entrants only.

ACROSS

6 Protective spirit, one backing national newspaper? (8, 5) 8 Aircraft originally giving lovely relaxed ride (6) 9 It’s the end for hanging draperies! (8) 10 Remains of forest tree? (3) 11 Stone outside Kentucky showing space station? (6) 12 Toothless old PM connected

with gallery (8) 14 One that ceases to be a plug?

(7) 16 ‘Don’t lose the lot’? Charming

(7) 20 Demote english member in

charge (8) 23 Dispatched to keep the Italian

quiet (6) 24 Unending civil disturbance in

S American port (3) 25 Catastrophe involving a girl’s

flowering plant (8) 26 Fairly dejected fellow is hurt

in the centre (6) 27 Badly run side including harsh

NHS employee (8, 5)

DOWN

1 Shifting ground comes to rest on edge (8) 2 Very attractive, having opportunity to embrace girl (8) 3 Protester married person with bow (7) 4 Scottish dramatist cutting down obstruction (6) 5 Content of bag has thief horrified (6) 6 Move fast, shaking up idle Goth in Kew (2, 4, 3, 4) 7 Insensitive greeting to ageing vicar yearning for bishopric? (4, 4, 2, 3) 13 Sister jumping up and down (3) 15 Doctor upset about union leader’s dog (3) 17 Where one might sail off Cowes? Cheeky! (8) 18 Barrister without room for spinning caterpillar (8) 19 Without hesitation, seek and find a row of houses (7) 21 Pass entrance to edifice by mistake (6) 22 A second seabird to the rear of the boat (6)