CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 Melted chocolate with mingled love-in is

what bats use (12)

8 Russian leader made a contribution (5)

9 Automobile procession in the form of road

comet (9)

11 M. Rodin sculpted mighty hunter (6)

12 Is cash-back increased when you go into

Top Gear? (6,2)

14 Give dog someone to love – Sooty, perhaps

(4,6)

15 Live south of the river (4)

18 White-collar workers return without

finishing oils (4)

19 Ten cleaning preparations for local

anaesthetic (10)

21 Modify, for example nothing about avatar

(5,3)

23 Stress put by accountant on small unit of

currency (6)

25 Inflicting extreme suffering on 5 when over

the hill (9)

26 Senior is one who plays against 16 if taken

out (5)

27 He pretends to go round projection with

heavy driver (12)

Down

1 French bar meant site had to be relocated (9)

2 Scots women gather round store like bird

runs (3,5)

3 Hit black sheep (4)

4 Seize girl being cheap and cheerful (10)

5 When in France you phone computer genius

(6)

6 Make a speech in Old English about Hamelin

plague individual (5)

7 Measure of scepticism expressed in sailor's

grip? (1,5,2,4)

10 Replace my present set of parents without

children (5-7)

13 Get out of jail route where water flows from

below (6,4)

16 One who finishes stories, they say, going in

to bat last (9)

17 I cry out aloud for cool food (8)

20 Aggro undid occupation of position (6)

22 Pillory the backward inhabitants of

Austrian region (5)

24 All G7 representatives arrive to be

introduced in Indian city (4)