No 2572, Sunday 14 Feb 10

11A was last to fall after an internet search
ACROSS
1 - Candle holder about to be stuck into cake (6) – SCON{C}E

4 - Programme information ringed by girl (6) – A{GEN}DA
8 - Vertical pipe, part of boiler I serviced (5) – RISER [T]
9 - English poet and Scottish one nearly surrounded by pigs (9) – SWIN{BURN(-s)}E
11 - Anger about British band in part of the US (5,4) – {BI{B}LE} {BELT}
12 - Is desperate for massages, reportedly (5) – NEEDS(~kneads)
13,16 - Greeting shames incompetent fools, surprisingly (11,2,3,6) – COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON*
19 - Bacteriologist treated tripe (5) – PETRI*
21 - Lazy types exhausted, last in heats (9) – {DEAD}{BEATS}
23 - Poet in saddle on eastern hilltop (9) – {COL}{E}{RIDGE} Nice clue
24 - Mount Carmel's first section (5) – {C}{LIMB} Nice one
25 - Crude fox's burrow at end of spinney (6) – {EARTH}{Y}
26 - Open out a French bap (6) – {UN}{ROLL}
DOWN
1 - Writer's attribute article ignored (6) – (-a)SCRIBE
2 - Almost take place next to principal brought over after duck dish (4,5) – {O}{SSO B<-}{(-r)UCCO<-} )
3 - Swear remedy must include touch of sun (5) – CUR{S}E
5 - Crack crackers and become very angry (2,7) – {GO} {BANANAS}
6 - Slow-moving shark in harbour (5) – NURSE [DD]


7 - Reluctant to produce a limerick? (6) – {A}{VERSE}
9 - Conceited dandy led the way (5-6) – {SWELL}-{HEADED}
10 - Lacking self-control, consuming alcohol to excess (11) – INTEMPERATE [DD]
14 - A short journey inside border for a venerable old lady (9) – {M{A}{TRI(-p)}ARCH}
15 - Oarsman in races representing country (3,6) – SAN MARINO*
17 - Parisian gangster quickly hiding heroin (6) – APAC{H}E
18 - Girl is first person to be murdered (6) – {IS}{ABEL} Another nice one
20 - Left in row for roof worker (5) – TI{L}ER
22 - Meat embargo hampering small company (5) – BA{CO}N



GRID