CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Measure of speed every second, mainly superhero organisation ( 5,3,4)

9 A public garden in Highland region, someone took a seat to take a stand ( 4,5)

10 Return of fair call of crow and cuckoo ( 5)

11 Competed about a Romeo of different sorts ( 6)

12 See 16 Down

13 Build a new roost to contain children? Estimable! ( 6)

14 National records are nearly herbs ( 8)

17 National greatly valued here ( Easter Urray, not Ayr), strangely ( 8)

19 Top band leader a rotter ( 6)

21 Star lost a set by chance ( 8)

23 Silly man taking in the National air ( 6)

25 Hearts get a goalkeeper from City? ( 5)

26 Desire to cook for surrounding road with ultimate in taste ( 4,1,4)

27 Bungled tracheotomy inserting end of screwdriver bears little fruit ( 6,6)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION:

Across: 7 Bottomless pits 9 Eskimo 10 Diapason 11 Nattered 13 Dredge 14 Stir 15 Outer 16 Mote 17 Profit 19 Harangue 21 Forecast 23 Groans 24 Insider dealers

DOWN

2 National – premium, fashionable and certain about a new century ( 9)

3 National coach? ( 7)

4 National protected area for quiet repository ( 4)

5 Something to take for those sick and tired of work ( 4,4)

6 Where hands are found who can’t broadcast ( 2,5)

7 Waste disposal equipment starts to recycle electric cookers, taking aluminium ( 5)

8 Perhaps Allen stopped producing sturdy trunk? ( 5- 7)

9 Thirsty raver distilled northern flower ( 5,7)

15 Let out entertaining cry of pain making first solemn assertion ( 9)

16/ 12 At last, start Ford Consul to get to National organisation ( 5,3,8)

18 Compulsory duty could be National worship ( 7)

20 Desire to provide guns to range of powers ( 4,3)

22 Return of vaccinotherapy as partial pick- meup ( 5)

24 Regularly due a bit of what we all owe the National ( 4)