CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Colourful vehicle, favourite to get this special treatment (3,6)

6 Does it mean the world to a fox? (5) 9 Frustrate arrangements from Kabul (5) 10 Hour being troublesome for one very close (9)

11 The quince served up after meat, it’s a fraud! (6,9)

13 Introduce a whimsical Tory inside (8) 14 Be with initial trouble and express grief (6) 16 Is in the wet although it has been dried (6) 18 Is a small spring lock essential for this child to let himself in? (8)

21 How audience applaud very rapidly (4,3,8) 23 Bonesetter Pat, she too struggled (9) 25 In avalanche, epicure heard bird sound (5) 26 Flighty interior is airy (5) 27 Exceeded one’ s welcome to tuesday perhaps (9)

DOWN

1 Puzzle about transport (5)

2 Fast and fast again (6-5)

3 Matchmaker suffering without HRT developing before noon (3,4)

4 I, confined with ten others, am sorry (8) 5 Jerk, taunt and half-inch (6) 6 Measure he can potentially improve (7) 7 Marsupial takes up no end of space (3) 8 “Equus” (9)

12 Nostrum, fraudulent cure (5,6) 13 First victim (5,4)

15 Advertising post’s recently been stolen (8) 17 Short introduction item following anthem (7)

19 Feline imitator? (7)

20 Notedly smoothly (6)

22 Tasty juice I had (5)

24 Water tower (3)