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ACROSS

1 Provides necessary assistance after an appalling scare (5) 4 Contented and happy when cutting up lease document (7) 8 Not dangerous, the Cockney says – like the Venus de Milo (7) 9 John’s too rough to cut back these parts of a plant (5) 10 A sudden burst of light reveals the floor cleaner (5) 11 Yours truly brought Rena back, being more selfish (6) 14 A surprise bonus for the petty officer on a merchant ship (5) 16 A hunter’s plastic duck perhaps? Ed is back and gets coy (5) 18 A group of firms controlling the market in new claret (6) 21 Dancing Nan to see Strictly’s Du Beke (5) 24 Drive car back to East Sussex briefly for the speed events (5) 25 Take some of Bea’s ten dogs to London’s Cockney area, say (4,3) 26 This could be the dopiest cash pay-in at the bank (7) 27 It helps to brew beer in parts of Skye, astonishingly (5)

DOWN

1 Dressed by a few of the Gaelic ladies (4) 2 Mabel Sr goes astray in long walks in the countryside (7) 3 Arranging tests on the hat some guys wear in Texas (7) 4 Little Philip is always in an Italian city (4) 5 The heir yearns to go north shortly to the eagle’s nest (5) 6 Show contempt for a person with agonising corns (5) 7 Completely ruins a skilfully restitched toy dress (8) 12 We are supporting the aunts at first, going to an Argyll loch (3) 13 The refurbished bus decor is hidden from view (8) 15 The long-life milk turned up in Thurso (1,1,1) 16 Nasty after disheartened Danny revealed a line of hereditary rulers (7) 17 Oh, Clare must be sick with a dangerous infectious disease (7) 19 Go over the main points and put the top back on the bottle (5) 20 A tea session partially reduces the tension (5) 22 Definitely expert, fully trained, primarily skilled (4) 23 Wee Edward must take it and prepare the book for publication (4)