Two-speed coffeebreak

Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same.

Cryptic clues ACROSS

1 Circulate butter, say (6) 4 Maid ran between (4) 7 Cure using shade (4) 8 Distance equal to time (6) 9 Melanie has style (4) 10 Old friend gets a stone (4) 12 Heard flag formed part of a car (4) 14 Fewer around animal (3) 16 Animal gives party energy (3) 17 Story’s thread (4) 20 Doom to changing demeanour (4) 23 German boy is happy (4) 24 Mad in Parisian river, say (6)

25 Lied about being lazy (4) 26 Large amount of cotton socks (4) 27 Joined the team (6)

DOWN

1 Great purse ruined (5) 2 Unusual not to be well done (4) 3 Cracked code with right ornamentation (5) 4 Part of the Far East (4) 5 Fish of questionable style (6)

6 Needs new compact (5) 11 Look noble (4) 13 Fluctuate like a toy (2-2) 15 Keep marine working (6) 16 A number enjoy something (5) 18 Farewell from a French deity (5) 19 Beg for new pedal (5) 21 Unusual to get second chances (4) 22 Huge vats are used (4)

Quick clues ACROSS

1 Scatter (6)

4 In the thick of (4) 7 Linen colour (4) 8 Astronomical distance (6) 9 Panache (4) 10 Opaque gem (4) 12 Wheel cover (4) 14 Female sheep (3) 16 Stag’s mate (3) 17 Sewing material (4) 20 Frame of mind (4) 23 Pleased (4) 24 Crazy (6) 25 Unoccupied (4) 26 Heavy weights (4) 27 Merged (6)

DOWN

1 Wonderful (5) 2 Seldom seen (4) 3 Furnishings (5) 4 Region (4) 5 Food fish (6) 6 Thick (5) 11 Aristocrat (4) 13 Stringed toy (2-2) 15 Stay (6) 16 Integer (5) 18 Word of leave-taking (5) 19 Implore (5) 21 Probabilities (4) 22 Immense (4)