DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Where monks meet to celebrate forty again (9,5) 9 Witches’ assembly in bay to north (5) 10 Replace catalogue, clot! (9) 11 Empty article cropped up with flower (3,4)

12 Most insignificant set it in motion (7) 13 Returning in haste, I decide to lose weight (4)

14 Toaster we transported in this (3-6)

18 Into the sea without directors’ approval (9) 20 Gangster requires American bonnet (4) 22 Reader of lines from hymn composer missing son (7)

25 Is a coin spinning in this island capital? (7)

26 Waterproof sheet boy and I tossed into mountain lake (9)

27 A leader still to come (5) 28 No end of furniture and smart clothes (5-5,4) DOWN

1 Speak from memory in later EC itemisation (6) 2 Indoor sport could be eased if involving four (4-1-4)

3 Trick kind companion (7) 4 Gold box given to painter for those in the pit (9) 5 Brewing agent from Skye, a stickler (5)

6 Manual work, note, for former female students (7) 7 Hire, if you don’t mind non-starter (5)

8 False set turned violent, gaining energy (7) 15 Artillery involves one regulation (9) 16 Philosopher on time to get bottom drawer’s contents? (9)

17 Firm favourite has me on the outside to contend with (7)

19 Body of troops ordered to carry kit (7)

20 The acre must be converted to a metric measure (7) 21 Group have a thing for the robber (6)

23 Wood left by spanner? (5) 24 Bulb unusually lit up (5)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Caresses (7)

5 Favouritism (4)

8 Perform (5)

9 Attacks (7)

11 Part of the neck (4)

12 Adjust continuously (8)

15 Nickname for the southern states of the USA (5) 16 Beleaguering of a town (5) 19 Canary or budgie, eg (4,4) 21 Seven days (4)

23 Open (a jar) (7)

25 Hinder (someone’s style) (5) 26 Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland (4) 27 Small close group (7)

DOWN

2 Pounding underfoot (9)

3 Horse feed cereal (4)

4 Exultant (6)

5 Large snake that kills by crushing (3)

6 Distribute in portions (5)

7 Sir ___ Henry, comedian and actor (5)

10 Artist’s workplace (6)

13 Builder’s concrete mix (9)

14 Someone who is economical with the truth (6)

17 Plasterer’s tool (6)

18 Jumps over a twirling rope (5) 20 Declare void (5)

22 Frozen desserts (4)

24 US espionage department (inits) (3)