The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 265 - Dec 9 2009

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Clues Answers
Ball game played with a table leg BAGATELLE
Be free-form with three tenors and use experimental setting TESTTUBE
Buzz of a motionless insect on flower ASTILBE
Clear up -- e.g. windscreen, say? If you'll start DEMYSTIFY
Comes to Kew as a recreation AWAKES
Could be physical obstruction BODYCHECK
Deciphered tiny page featuring hieroglyphics, perhaps EGYPTIAN
Do research on a pro-UK party READUP
Fight over football fan's gear around central Newcastle FRACAS
Half of children were thrown by humorous poem CLERIHEW
Leggy bird that's big in 'Sex and the City'! SHOEBILL
Little bird in Spooner's little house, of course NUTHATCH
Loses control with child on board? SKIDS
Massage oil, not cream LOTION
Clues Answers
Maybe Danish father's precursor to conversion? PASTRY
Newspaper's name for rabble RAGTAG
One gagging order to silence first person exaggerating STRETCHER
One more boozy-sounding part of Europe IBERIA
Publicist I got my teeth into outside hotel bar PROHIBIT
Roof with no opening for loft access HATCH
Say hi to my favourite snake? ASPIRATE
Schoolboy error, detaching back of harness when climbing PUPIL
Soul singer overacting, turn by rock band -- this 'Nutcracker' is quite a production! SLEDGEHAMMER
To make money, about time to replace plumbing for a start and install mod cons RETROFIT
Trouble and strife -- a travel restriction for one with convictions? BALLANDCHAIN
Tube train not in service ultimately, absent after crash when empty TRACHEA
Wall in old city dividing Middle East after leaders of Israel manoeuvre IMMURE
Was freelance heard to make proposition? TEMPT