Double crossword

Cryptic puzzle

Across

1. One suffering from this finds it difficult to go on (5-6)

9. Contemporary gift (7)

10. Conductor is caricatured, we hear (5)

11. They sound like justifiable claims for observances (5)

12. Not in the mail for remote station (7)

13. Fray a piece of ribbon, by the sound of it (6)

15. Girls upset by eastern fish (6)

18. Passable method golfers should keep to (7)

20. Rude mechanical instrument (5)

22. They spray water on the ramblers (5)

23. Show too much enthusiasm in taking part (7)

24. They’re indispensable when Scene 1 is set differently (11)

Down

2. To give patient attention is an unusual pleasure (5)

3. Had a shot at the visitor, one hears! (7)

4. Get to the bottom of a nautical measure (6)

5. Piece of metal to go in tin alloy (5)

6. Lock lubricator (4-3)

7. Austere menu provided at Thermopylae? (7,4)

8. By which bills are paid for the colonies (11)

14. Produce a publication again about children (7)

16. Take some thought to provide a mirror image (7)

17. They support current means of power (6)

19. As wet as scrap material (5)

21. A custom among industrious agents (5)

Quick puzzle

Across

1. Conceited (11)

9. Inconsistent (7)

10. Devil (5)

11. Subject (5)

12. Thin (7)

13. Fools (6)

15. Put (6)

18. Crossbeam (7)

20. Horrify (5)

22. Singer (5)

23. Closest (7)

24. Diversify (11)

Down

2. Edge (5)

3. Withdraw (7)

4. Overlook (6)

5. Poke (5)

6. Wandering (7)

7. Confining (11)

8. Disbelief (11)

14. Persian (7)

16. Unauthorised disclosure (7)

17. Reparation (6)

19. Riddle (5)

21. Squeeze (5)

Tuesday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Evidence; 5 Acid; 9 Alas; 10 Spurious; 11 Curie; 12 Tripper; 13 General stores; 18 Absolved; 19 Scab; 20 Dormant; 21 Crate; 22 Dame; 23 Presence.

Down: 2 Vulture; 3 Dislike; 4 Capital letter; 6 Cropper; 7 Deserts; 8 Artist; 13 Guarded; 14 Nostrum; 15 Reload; 16 Observe; 17 Elastic.

QUICK

Across: 1 Twilight; 5 Vend; 9 Area; 10 Handicap; 11 Silly; 12 Operate; 13 Death sentence; 18 Monarchy; 19 Pail; 20 Relieve; 21 Debar; 22 Turf; 23 Assisted.

Down: 2 Warlike; 3 Leaflet; 4 Head over heels; 6 Enchain; 7 Deplete; 8 Advent; 13 Demerit; 14 Annular; 15 Harken; 16 Express; 17 Climate.