CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Pick out suits, hiding tailored variety (11)

8 Be environmentally friendly, though futile (7)

9 Page from unreadable epic (5)

11 Drink through side, but not end (3) 12 Tray allowed to go into meat spread (7)

13 Penniless prince managed to be more agreeable (5) 14 Old sweetheart left to sell overseas (6)

16 Greek character removing lice from centres (6)

19 Don’t speak on the carpet, express indifference? (5)

21 Always a heavyweight football team (7) 23 That woman’s crowning glory, by the sound of it (3) 24 Daughter is company in the dance club (5) 25 Woman – one behind

bars (7) 26 No alchemist fixed

gambling device (4,7)

DOWN

2 All but one of the ladies turned out to be perfect (5)

3 Bird in the loudspeaker? (7)

4 Made home in street surrounded by poverty (6)

5 Sikh headwear leader removed in the town (5)

6 Designer’s device confuses clients (7)

7 Put down drink in a hurry (10)

10 Long‑haired animal it’s certain asp poisoned (7,3)

15 Umbrella soldier nearly exchanged for cash (7)

17 Discover one in France with broken heart (7)

18 Country providing rabies treatment (6)

20 Spirit that’s good entertainer (5)

22 School transport (5)