No 2663, Sunday 04 Dec 11

ACROSS
1   - Instrument, Gallic warning device (6,4) - FRENCH HORN {FRENCH}{HORN}

6   - Blow the whistle on store (4) - SHOP [DD]
9   - Language of malicious woman in front of boy (7) - CATALAN {CAT}{ALAN}
10 - Constable I included as very good artist (7) - PICASSO {P{I}C}{AS}{SO}
12 - Poles thinly dispersed, for the most part (5) - SPARS SPARSe
13 - Docker's severed toe finally amputated, unfortunately (9) - STEVEDORE {SEVERED+TOe}*
14 - Early star or moon excited Halley, say (10,5) - ASTRONOMER ROYAL*
16 - Working lunches with a macabre lawyer (9,6) - AMBULANCE CHASER {LUNCHES+A+MACABRE}* 

19 - The missile to backfire? (9) - BOOMERANG [DD]

21 - Cook nearly all staple food Greek-style (5) - DORIC {DO}{RICe}
23 - Pulls to pieces product of Pasteur (5,2) - TEARS UP*
24 - Enclosed area for 150 in eastern part of church (7) - ENCLAVE {E}{N{CL}AVE}
25 - Building area? Eyesore, from what one hears (4) - SITE (~sight)
26 - Nastiness surprisingly involving a French composer (5-5) - SAINT-SAENS {NASTINESS+A}*
DOWN
1   - Foreign Office caught out over American target (5) - FOCUS {FO}{C}{US}
2   - Competitor in event ran third (7) - ENTRANT [T]
3   - Cuts of meat in the refrigerator? (4-9) - COLD-SHOULDERS [DD]
4   - Members of a ship's crew losing easily (5,4) - HANDS DOWN {HANDS} {DOWN}
5   - Drill found in boulevard, and a little bit of money (5) - RUPEE {RU{PE}E} Why little bit?
7   - Having blown top, this Conservative in the past (7) - HISTORY {tHIS}{TORY}
8   - Measure of cloth put inside appropriate mechanical device (9) - PROPELLER {PROP{ELL}ER}
11 - Empty the packs and prepare for action (5,3,5) - CLEAR THE DECKS {CLEAR} {THE} {DECKS}
14 - Nervously sat with an able actor (4,5) - ALAN BATES {SAT+AN+ABLE}*
15 - Ivy, perhaps, always growing (9) - EVERGREEN {EVER}{GREEN}
17 - Resilient youth, reportedly leading worker (7) - BUOYANT (~boy){BUOY}{ANT}
18 - Top expert on a Malibu board? (7) - SURFACE {SURF}{ACE}
20 - Greek starter? (5) - ALPHA [CD]
22 - Chapter on English pianist making musical (5) - CHESS {C}{HESS}