DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

Across

1 Fools before second judge (6)

5 Everyone at home very tired (3‑2)

9 Praise highly in Essex, altruistically (5) 10 Relation put right in trouble (7)

11 Loaded rugs into council house initially (4)

12 Acrobatic lice that jump (8) 16 Country dog is brown (11) 18 Arsenic scattered over situation (8)

21 Without beginning, attain individually (4)

23 Letters in the sky? (7)

24 Travelled round to see US equestrian entertainment (5) 25 Leaves container dirty after being emptied by rat (5)

26 Has a hankering for stories about the east (6)

Down

2 Involved chase, free of charge for house‑hunting (6,3) 3 Warms up, removing starter, then dines (4) 4 Greatly advances, time against friend (13) 6 Taken in flat, tea – or coffee? (5)

7 Twice Nigeria hosts ancient race (5)

8 With hesitation, bring cook round boat (5) 13 In case learner is French (4)

14 Great Dane destroyed refreshment area outdoors (3,6)

15 Which person at a stop (4)

17 Sound of many sheep producing bloomer (5) 19 Feature a country (5) 20 Wanderer is number crazy (5)

22 Not even our ocean whale (4)

QUICK CLUES

Across

1 Lend a hand (6)

5 Aunt’s husband (5)

9 Human trunk (5)

10 Live without home comforts (5,2)

11 Highest point (4)

12 National history (8)

16 Treated (milk) (11)

18 Foot soldiers (8)

21 Rewrite (4)

23 Great affliction (7)

24 Support vocally (5)

25 Bring up to date (5)

26 Calm and dignified (6)

Down

2 Rugby position (5,4)

3 Element whose symbol is Fe (4) 4 75 per cent (5‑8)

6 Period of darkness (5)

7 Being untruthful (5)

8 Thin length of leather (5) 13 Coloured part of the eye (4) 14 Modification (9)

15 Daze (4)

17 Tempest (5)

19 Little corner (5)

20 Entertain (5)

22 Corrosive substance (4)