Bridge and crossword

A prize of £15 in book tokens will be awarded for the first correct solution opened. Solutions must reach Crossword No 4604, Country Life, Pinehurst II, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF, by

Tuesday, November 12. UK entrants only.

ACROSS 2 Proofreaders’ assistants are

ancient landowners (11) 7 Saw projections as the most

violent part (5) 8 Someone viewing specification of worthless items otherwise (9) 10 Small change for bomb

fragments (8) 11 Looter restricted one who

helps sheep (3-6) 12 Summon fashionable French

quickly (6) 15 Parliamentary body debates

telecom items etc (6,9) 20 Lost out when autopilots to

perfect place (6) 21 Mouth pineapple and become

crazy (2,7) 23 Anxious when desserts sent

back (8) 24 Peer leapt about to find

source of cider (5,4) 25 Month in advance (5) 26 Warmly and excitedly start

to gesture to friend (11) DOWN 1 Salesman right to shape condemnation (8) 2 Pole axe using item of cutlery (9) 3 Model question (5) 4 Transport drawn in unorthodox cartoons (6) 5 Arrive and withdraw (4,2) 6 Small bear from city took part in disturbance (6) 7 States it is again most flavoursome (8) 9 Minerals distributed at police’s gala (11) 13 Harm deity to provide heat generation (9) 14 Had to take up sodium to vicar in porch (8) 16 Hanging strips over crack (8) 17 Fluffy ball of wool in canon (3-3) 18 Second-rate actor to rent in small village (6) 19 Beating military display (6) 22 Pinch small duck (5)