The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 2,562 - Dec 22 2020

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Clues Answers
Acknowledge Eric's gone to work RECOGNISE
Age requirement to compete in Tour de France? CYCLE
Area of England where stories circulated about Roman Catholic WORCESTERSHIRE
Cocky supporter's hard to sit behind BRASH
Comparatively dull content of lecture is word-perfect, looking back DROWSIER
Conclude hydrocarbon ultimately needs oxygen for conflagration INFERNO
Declared object in game? To be the victor! CONQUER
Detestable swear-word employed by student a little LOATHSOME
Expression of consent from each bigwig to skip starters VERYWELL
Fated to perform, engaging individual that's musically challenged? TONEDEAF
Flocks of birds heading for distant parts CROWDS
Found small bird tucking into fruit that is around INSTITUTE
Friendship sustains Conservative with extremely awful affliction CALAMITY
Fuel line located after Paddy runs over PETROL
Hard shell of some invertebrate starfish TESTA
Clues Answers
Herb loves defending US President, releasing first article OREGANO
Instruction to economise is ineffectual USELESS
Ne'er-do-well used to be lively revolutionary America expelled WASTREL
Oddly neglected verse, for example, by leading writer ESSAYIST
Offer more to obtain lots of available British papers OUTBID
Piercing involves son becoming tense, getting excited feeling THRILL
Put off female wearing fawn? DEFER
Queen reviewed info about unknown architectural style REGENCY
They dread springs becoming dry DEHYDRATE
They provide assistance when carrying kiddies occasionally AIDES
Tuck is legendary here as sheer worst food around! SHERWOODFOREST
Tuneful rock band departs, one embraced by host MELODIC
Typical character shown by those cycling ETHOS
Who's misplaced jumper, medium, in area displaying merchandise? SHOWROOM
Wise utterances from old Dawson, perhaps involving motorists ORACLES