The Brain Teaser

No. 8,573

ACROSS

1. Trying hard to fight? (10)

6. Part of a doll, perhaps, that's not quite to scale (4)

10. What you do to a book when you get it back with the outside torn? (7)

11. It was a nice, neat, little programme (7)

12. Are they worn by a victorious tug-of-war team? (9)

13. Having learned one had been recognised (5)

14. Turn round to the east and you'll see the bird (5)

15. Clean as the floor-boards in a newly-built house? (9)

17. Hastily seizes - the opportunity to recover lost ground? (7,2)

20. Men who are weight-lifters! (5)

21. What the tests are for in the forest (5)

23. The milieu of the old master? (3,6)

25. I first got the bird a drink (7)

26. Leaning over - the last? (7)

27. Guess it's about six; let's have some food

(4)

28. Why you always like to have books near you? (5,5)

DOWN

1. A fight that's no good (5)

2. Remember to have another whip-round (9)

3. Escape by leaving a trail of banana skins? (4,3,3,4)

4. Do they make things greasy in kitchens? (7)

5. How a coin is changed abroad (7)

7. I had a call from America (5)

8. Just the people to solve your thorny problems! (9)

9. Did they have lighter shirts underneath them? (7,7)

14. The soldiers maintained they had regained lost ground (9)

16. Penning and putting in the envelope? (9)

18. Such people are inclined to be arch, it seems (7)

19. Vessel that has a bung? (7)

22. Bird with a woman riding it? (5)

24. Illuminating reading? (5)

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE No. 8572:

1 Customer; 5 Bantam; 10 Fair wear and tear; 11 Ensured; 12 Earthen; 13 Bassinet; 15 Night; 18 Spell; 20 Marketed; 23 Obviate; 25 Mountie; 26 Threelegged race; 27 Dressy; 28 Starless.

DOWN: 1 Coffer; 2 Shipshape; 3 Onwards; 4 Eland; 6 Andiron; 7 Teeth; 8 Marinate; 9 Man-eater; 14 Numbered; 16 Great Dane; 17 Assorted; 19 Leavens; 21 Ecuador; 22 Meters; 24 Verge; 25 Might.