Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman, March 8 2014

ACROSS

1 Sam unduly hot inside will undress (8)

5 Nearly everybody about in the corporation had some powder (6)

10 Bird moving in place (7)

11 Lady had a large drink it was reported (7)

12 Stretch one’s neck to see the bird (5)

13 Horrified it had turned to stone (9)

14 L, A or W (6,2,3,3)

17 Late way to celebrate (4,1,5,2,2)

21 Red flag seen from a mile off (9)

23 In the main a valley full of warships (5)

24 Alight from French transport (7)

25 Without energy, more rust removed from platform (7)

26 No mariner takes a student as usual (6)

27 Rush over with Eddy becoming shaky (8)

DOWN

1 Lighten one’s case (6)

2 Examine and compare pass after the usual time (7)

3 Carthorse startled musicians (9)

4 Would legislation have to be suspended in this? (4,10)

6 A liberal, one making a plea (5)

7 Concentric humour upsetting first-class novice (7)

8 Came across first bit of litter included on the ground during complete collapse (8)

9 Person noted for goodness coming from mine in Cheshire? (4,2,3,5)

15 Had a bent part attached to a central feature (4-5)

16 Make courageous set in darker type (8)

18 Contractor using needles (7)

19 How poets write the exact opposite (7)

20 Mud covered medal making it sticky (6)

22 Apprentice priest’s animal (5)

Friday’s solution

Across: 1 Abdomen, 5 Daunted, 9 Caption, 10 Descent, 11 Scapegoat, 12 Chase, 13 Dears, 15 Psalmists, 16 Foretaste, 18 Shako, 21 Seven, 22 Equitable, 24 Earnest, 26 Hundred, 27 Sidlaws, 28 Noshery.

Down: 1 Accused, 2 Dopiaza, 3 Moire, 4 Non compos mentis, 5 Didn’t have much on, 6 Ups, 7 The bars, 8 Dithers, 12 Camus, 14 Seton, 16 Fosters, 17 Revered, 19 Auberge, 20 Open day, 23 Tones, 25 Eta.

Last week’s solution

Across: 1 Pageantry, 6 Bosom, 9 Sadhu, 10 Arkwright, 11 Hell freezes over, 13 Distress, 14 Chilli, 16 Rhymed, 18 Boundary, 21 Mountain to climb, 23 Unshackle, 25 Exalt, 26 Haven, 27 Endorphin.

Down: 1 Pasch, 2 God bless you, 3 Aquifer, 4 Traverse, 5 Yakuza, 6 Bortsch, 7 Sag, 8 Maternity, 12 Volcanic ash, 13 Dartmouth, 15 Jolthead, 17 Entrain, 19 Nuclear, 20 Pickle, 22 Baton, 24 Sov.