Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 08/03/2012

ACROSS

1 Joins forces, and arrives at the same time (5,8)

10 Volunteer to get away, with little hesitation (5)

11 Comes close to stir drink, getting to the end (5,2,2)

12 Old lady sticks around, but lies down on the job (9)

13 Small number put back when still in bed (3,2)

14 Race along with small tribes in the States (7)

16 Overtake one working with enthusiasm (7)

18 First-class standard in primary, or elementary (7)

20 Cap part of Vermont eroded by the wind (7)

21 Checks out standards of essays (5)

23 Does one tend to see off a group in custody? (9)

25 Sets off some decorations with accessories (9)

26 Final words taken from the spoken voice (5)

27 Sound flattering about mutual correspondent (13)

DOWN

2 Refuse to take guts from carcases (5)

3 One user upset, or could be mistaken (9)

4 Interferes with a politician in a small terrace on Sunday (7)

5 Hand over drink, and abandons it (5,2)

6 Did former champ attempt to run away from boy? (5)

7 Met up with a European ship to be in tune (9)

8 Spreading information by correspondence course (13)

9 Camaraderie of a group of friends who are tuned in (13)

15 Attacks senator over it (5,4)

17 Transferred one group of workers with little time for emotion (9)

19 Beat old rebel in front of new church (7)

20 On canvas, copy may turn out to be by a French artist (7)

22 Reckon to get the answer, on the whole, at college (3,2)

24 Little swimmer can get through a tunnel very well (5)

Wednesday’s solution:

Across: 1 Crew, 3 Camouflage, 10 Motto, 11 Potboiler, 12 Article of faith, 14 Alchemist, 16 Extra, 18 Large, 19 Pipe-dream, 20 Troubleshooter, 24 Keep going, 25 Spoke, 26 Precedents, 27 Deed.

Down: 1 Come-at-able, 2 Estate-car, 4 Apple, 5 Out of step, 6 Flog a dead horse, 7 Allot, 8 Earl, 9 Concrete jungle, 13 Hammerhead, 15 Impulsive, 17 Twenty-one, 21 Reeve, 22 Sight, 23 Skep.

Grid 13