CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across 1.

Mine the £25 used to haul coal (3-4)

4. If caught, leave backwards, parking inside (7)

8. The Eternal City to which all roads lead (4)

9. Come out of hiding or veer back to it (5,5)

11. It’s nothing to me to allow egg dish to be made (6)

12. One so erect as to be mysterious (8)

14. Ballet movement could be a square variation (9)

15. Do yet get change played with (5) 17. Roman 40, one hears, will do supremely well (5)

18. It’s bad, ace who quits the throne like this (9)

19. May be late around here, and spirit-like (8)

21. Nero is perhaps higher in rank (6) 23. Dish the dirt: a claim that is killing mother (10)

24. Heavenly-sounding isle (4)

25. A solvent is one lute can be made from (7) 26. Renounces former belief about centaurs being non-u (7)

Down 1.

Get one a grasp of the accommodation the church provides (9)

2. It’s dry, this put-up place (10,5)

3. What gets spun like a sailor’s story (4)

4. Rises above North and South crest somehow (10)

5. Like a bed at the racecourse (5)

6. Is being hit by pennilessness (7-8) 7. Cord one twisted into order (5)

10. Some nice, really tasty breakfastfood (6)

13. Pale blue-green water of the sea (10)

15. The heart of the tape is a paper ribbon (6)

16. Rats in the reeds rest like this (9) 19. Met me going about as a tourist in Cornwall (5)

20. Put her in the river anyhow (5)

22. It’s just the place to find swings and roundabouts (4)