CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Meccano lent out, so got a hiding (11)

9. It can shoot you down and get the drop on you (7,6)

10 & 20ac. Cheat by removing a page from the book (3,3)

11. New Year gets hot in no particular place ... (8)

14. ... but rig one up in a particular place (6)

15. Cling to then split (6)

18. Nominal hat with feather wearer (8)

20. See 10

23. Eleven burnt, pa, unfortunately. Couldn’t be helped (13)

24. Relief to few sadly with the landmark (6,5)

Down

2. Noon gig was an everyday thing (7)

3. The birdhouse had a small bed facing east (4)

4. Plane parks found on the domestic front (6)

5. Michael’s out of this world stroll (8)

6. Peer “Argus” was not found in the lounge bars (5)

7. See 22

8. Architectural features that stops you dead reportedly (7)

12. Put the wrong person in the picture! (5-2)

13. Lucky type in the field – or a very short book? (4,4)

16. A strong moralistic story can be pleasing (7)

17. On the run re almonry – that’s a bit incredible (6)

19. Island with gigantic apricots (5) 21. Prothonotary holds records of the first pope to preach crusades (4) 22 & 7dn. The brew has fermented I hear, so let’s play golf (3,3)

Yesterday

Across: 1. Scream, 5. Prefab, 9. Public, 10. Spiral, 11. Stop, 12 & 19ac. Drinking fountain, 14. Lyceum, 16. Deanna, 21. Fact, 22. Idioms, 23. Skives, 24. Tussle, 25. Assist.

Down: 2 & 15dn. Country cousins, 3. Ellipse, 4. Macadamia, 6. Repin, 7 & 17dn. Foreign affairs, 8. Bologna, 13. Indonesia, 14. Leftist, 18. Nucleus, 20. Tamil.