WEEKEND CROSSWORD

Dear Reader,

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic we are suspending competition entries for all our prize crosswords.

Puzzles will continue to appear as normal but no entries will be accepted or prizes given.

We hope to return to normal as soon as possible.

The solution to this week’s cryptic crossword will appear next Saturday as usual.

Stay safe!

Joy Yates, Editorial Director

ACROSS

1 Trifling amount for hungry bird? (11)

9 Lady had elephantine part (5)

10 A few steps Victor included with

reproduction edition (7,4)

11 Transported to island but stopped short (5)

12 Claim calumets can be instrumental in making music (8)

14 Conclude independent has alternative subordinate (8)

15 The real trouble is tanned skin (7)

17 Slovenly punk met eccentric (7) 20 Cherish valuables (8)

21 Knots Lee extricated to reveal bones (8) 24 Long-legged weightlifter (5)

25 Number accepting church set of principles, it’s part of the service (6,5)

26 Wise bondsman (5) 27 Madras ale as served up in Tanzania (3,2,6)

DOWN

2 Some shy dragon or water monster (5)

3 Bite the winner (5) 4 Adventure in our time boarding flight (8)

5 Lot of bother going round church taking one a shrub (7)

6 Lighting-up time? (8) 7 Current item replaced whilst enlisting (11)

8 Well-known person to restrict merrymaking (11)

12 William’s on watch for one putting up posters (11)

13 Seeing a part involved using this makeup (6,5)

16 Fled from the Andes (8) 18 Roving salesmen had not been identified (8)

19 Herons be first to crowd round (7)

22 All of a sudden rolling in to register (5)

23 Last order, about time (5)