No 2697, Sunday 29 Jul 12

ACROSS
1   - Destructive insect from place close to croft (6)  - LOCUST {LOCUS}{T}

4   - Don't agree with article (6)  - OBJECT [DD]
8   - Troops surrounding our arsenal (7)  - ARMOURY {ARM{OUR}Y}
10 - A channel, after six, showing a type of bridge (7)  - VIADUCT {VI}{A}{DUCT}
11 - Boy on pitch wearing hat (9)  - TARPAULIN {TAR}{PAUL}{IN}

12 - Marvellous one, a character in Ugly Betty (5)  - FABIA {FAB}{1}{A}
13 - Come close to rough (11)  - APPROXIMATE [DD]
15 - Plotter studies airport surreptitiously (11)  - CONSPIRATOR {CONS}{AIRPORT*}
19 - Drink containing very soft fruit (5)  - APPLE {A{PP}LE}
20 - Attendants argue dreadfully after note translated (9)  - ENTOURAGE {NOTE*}{ARGUE*}
22 - Type of humour OK in G&S (7)  - GALLOWS {G{ALLOW}S}
23 - Subjugate Eastern European in endless trap (7)  - ENSLAVE {E}{N{SLAV}Et}
24 - Go round in foxtrot at 'Empress' (6)  - ROTATE [T]
25 - A capital city since about that time (6)  - ATHENS {A{THEN}S}
DOWN
1   - Slowly describing a skillion (4-2)  - LEAN-TO {LE{A}N-TO}
2   - Chapter on Italian region and English county (7)  - CUMBRIA {C}{UMBRIA}
3   - Salvation Army girl in steam bath (5)  - SAUNA {SA}{UNA}
5   - Party head quick to embrace English (9)  - BEANFEAST {BEAN}{F{E}AST}
6   - European queen, clever, calm and even-tempered (7)  - EQUABLE {E}{QU}{ABLE}
7   - It is twice raised by an Italian artist (6)  - TITIAN {TI<-}{TI<-}{AN}
9   - Red-tops in cowardly campaign (6,5)  - YELLOW PRESS {YELLOW} {PRESS}
10 - Dressing viscountess, initially, in plumed headdress (11)  - VINAIGRETTE {V}{IN}{AIGRETTE}
14 - Write exam about county for Whitsuntide (9)  - PENTECOST {PEN}{TE{CO}ST}
15 - Top university rented Juliet's house (7)  - CAPULET {CAP}{U}{LET}
16 - All are drunk with auberge finally serving up traditional beer (4,3)  - REAL ALE {ALL+ARE}*{E}
17 - Pester poor German (6)  - BADGER {BAD}{GER}
18 - Level pegging on board in game (6)  - SEVENS {S{EVEN}S}
21 - Trouble leading group (5) - UPSET {UP}{SET}