Two-speed coffeebreak

Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Barrier formed by politicians? (5,4) 8 Sacks hold rook and crows (5) 10 Calm down a beat, somehow (5) 12 Turn up time and place (3) 13 Initially a cry for help (1,1,1) 14 Still in the venture (4) 15 Landlady’s character (6) 16 Constructed objection about one student (5) 18 Not the first time (6) 20 Clambering around youngster (4) 22 Hearsay about body part (3) 23 That woman’s in the right (3) 24 Talk at zero speed (5) 25 Rosie cultivated a willow (5) 26 Room to turn and mislay plant material (9)

DOWN

2 Staring at a torn page (5) 3 Cricket match can be a trial (4) 4 You and I organise sale of animal (6) 5 Smallest amount went off, stale (5) 6 Former pupil finds hearing complex (9) 7 Compassion gets bishop to run off in pain (9) 9 A bun got thrown at armed vessel (7) 11 Bolt set out in containers (7) 15 Slide round the top (3) 17 A French earl, terribly bizarre (6) 19 Stop affair with European (5) 21 Arise awkwardly at sign (5) 23 Hard to get bird to wail (4)

Solutions in tomorrow’s Daily Mirror

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Common barrier (5,4) 8 Boasts (5) 10 Recede (5) 12 Place (3) 13 Distress call (1,1,1) 14 Level (4) 15 Epistle (6) 16 Erected (5) 18 Period of time (6) 20 Young sheep (4) 22 Listening organ (3) 23 Pronoun (3) 24 Speak in public (5) 25 Willow (5) 26 Plant material (9)

DOWN

2 Open-mouthed (5) 3 Examine (4) 4 Small mammal (6) 5 Minimum (5) 6 Preoccupation (9) 7 Acid reflux (9) 9 Military vessel (7) 11 Flagons (7) 15 Cover (3) 17 Strange (6) 19 Desist (5) 21 Zodiac Ram (5) 23 Cry (4)

Solutions in tomorrow’s Daily Mirror