CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Returning prize covering branch post office can get bums on seats (7,5)

9 Swell having lots of time left for bread winner (4,5)

10 Contained in a chocolate chip (5) 11 Spinning machine beginning to remove froth (6)

12 See 16 Down

13 Cold-booded vegetarian again upset about union leader (6)

14 At the end of the year there’s a lot to take in – a swine as leader (8)

17 Enough drink, girl - bar’s closing at some point (8)

19 Accelerated pressure for entering English exam (1-5)

21 When it’s coming down, it goes up (8) 23 What is owed a Kirk Moderator on organ (6) 25 Star sign’s last, something after fishes (5) 26 Those once responsible for delivering mail (9)

27 Caesar, perhaps, securing victory over corrupt laird becoming artist (8,4)

DOWN

2 See 16

3 Breaking news about temperature extremes leading round high noon, perhaps (7) 4 Orderly put away after last election (4) 5 Osprey, for example, parrot, cuckoo having origins of Eurasian dotterel? (8)

6 Sweet victory over Europe before bringing up assault (4,3)

7 Staggering film (5)

8 He’s not really fixed up, so looking for love (6,6)

9 See 16

15 Spooner’s work for Gwyn with transmitter (5,4)

16/2/9D/20/12 22Dn’s famous last words at 14Ac? (4,3,1,5,4-6,6,3,4,4,4) 18 Characters from clan retelling uprising on and on and on (7)

20 See 16

22 Starts to behave unusually, recovery nurse saves blushes (5)

24 Rounds initially made in a very short time (4)

STAPLETON TUESDAY’S SOLUTION: Across: Piece of cake, 9 Rondo, 10 Carol singer, 11 Twit, 14 Earth, 16 Impress, 17 Aroma, 18 Grammy, 19 Ferret, 22 Eaten, 23 Airless, 24 Tutor, 25 Euro, 26 Silent Night, 29 Lance, 30 Entered into Down: 1 Pic, 2 Ear, 3 Enlivenment, 4 Fairest, 5 Algarve, 6 Err, 7 Snowboarder, 8 Portraitist, 12 Jingle bells, 13 Splattering, 15 Harebrained, 20 Notelet, 21 Partner, 26 See, 27 Gin, 28 Too