TAKE A BREAK

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Dickens' times were so

tough (4)

4 Cart concealing poor view

in road (8)

8 Break ties in underworld,

now reformed (6)

9 Refuse to eat hot buffet

(6)

10 Moving around is ancient

reptile (8)

12 Old sheep outside for

wander (4)

13 Sensible drivers do stop

talking (4,2)

15 Amount in old shelter (6) 17 Ancient part in

Armageddon (4) 19 Charm your way in? (8) 21 Such a gathering as raises

spirits? (6)

22 Good commercial:

purchase device (6) 23 Notice Edmund abused

rider (8)

24 Spot European with 007?

(4)

DOWN

2 Excuse Somali bigamist

uses (5)

3 Failed student in fresh

start at Rugby (4-3) 4 Oxbridge lecturer in river

(3)

5 Cross from Bury religious

group (9)

6 Fear going topless is

mistake (5)

7 Ban Asti perhaps? (7) 11 Arrest dapper Dicky

trapping chicken (9)

14 Is one troubled by cracking

thoughts? (7)

16 Move like duck after time?

Nonsense (7)

18 Desperate character at

church disco (5) 20 Bootlicker to move slowly

(5)

22 Average man carries stone

(3)

COFFEE TIME ACROSS

1 Unyielding (4) 4 Approach to house (8) 8 Disclaim (6)

9 Trounce (6) 10 Prehistoric creature (8) 12 Meander (4)

13 Be quiet (4,2)

15 Size or scale (6)

17 Very old (4)

19 Bewitch or beguile (8) 21 Spiritualist meeting (6) 22 Gizmo (6) 23 Postscript (8) 24 Observe (4)

DOWN

2 Defence from suspect (5) 3 FE deserter (4-3)

4 Slip into (3)

5 Meet at a point (9) 6 Blunder (5)

7 Decline to vote (7) 11 Perceive or take in (9) 14 Boffin (7)

16 Drivel (7)

18 Move to music (5) 20 Tiptoe (5)

22 Jewel (3)