PRIZE CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Myself and queen to wander (7) 5 Bundle of papers he put in safe out East (5)

8 Rub out some howler, as erroneous (5)

9 Writer, arm grabbing one bird (7)

10 Sword that cuts both ways (3-5) 11 No more than a fragment of a John Lennon lyric (4) 13 Obnoxious cheat returns with promises to pay (6) 15 Former king raised by small Persian king (6) 18 Transport returns to shop (4) 19 This fights disease, and boy it works! (8)

22 Empty article cropped up with flower (3,4) 23 Second-class travel for woman in white? (5)

24 Attack where actors work (5) 25 Mother’s broken hot liquid container (7)

DOWN

1 Some art recreated by outstanding musician (7)

2 In total, a momentous American battle (5)

3 Dud flare exploded? That’s terrible (8)

4 Rear up over circular ratio sword (6)

5 Boy has good tune (4)

6 Like a horse without a tail, steer into biannual event (7) 7 Strange but amusing (5) 12 Soldiers likely to be trustworthy (8)

14 Attacks fashionable streets (7) 16 Reserve sherry opened by eminence, say (7)

17 Buy shares in clothing (6) 18 Paris underground going through some trouble (5)

20 I’m up to no good on love drug (5)

21 Get lippy during shop outing (4)