CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

7. Remove the axe from the excavator and dance around (6) 8. Hardly a ribald path, we hear, for the wedding party (6) 9. Deborah is shortly to take the first iou (4) 10. Close shave for the main attraction in the 8 party? (4,4) 11. Company has strange galas to get fuel (4,3) 13. Hits out stylishly and with cunning (5) 15. Full of information from all directions at the end of the day (5) 17. Modify and be up to speed for the games (7) 20. Nine diodes and turns into O2 (8) 21. Cosy place from the north is French (4) 23. Tell using an official document (6) 24. Caught in the web? (2-4)

Down

1. The mist of dried grasses so to speak (4) 2. Not death defying (6) 3. Street bank because has orderly lines (7) 4. A light across a ship? (5) 5. Sidney returns to Malcolm rather gloomy (6) 6. The result is an “F” in music (4,4) 12. Does as he is told, gets an honour but will be killed in the Northern Territory (8) 14. If you stay here long enough you may catch something (3,4) 16. A down to earth occupation (6) 18. With no-one to talk to, make an advance, Christopher, reportedly (6) 19. The family apple? (5) 22. From the south and the beach (4)

Yesterday

Across: 7. Threes, 8. Cloudy, 9. Limp, 10. Aquarium, 11. Elected, 13. Melts, 15. Swear, 17. Grandma, 20. Plectrum, 21. Rang, 22. Pedals, 23. Racket.

Down: 1. Shrill, 2. Hemp, 3. Escaped, 4. Scout, 5. Fourteen, 6. Adjust, 12. Charcoal, 14. Primary, 16. Wilted, 18. Mended, 19. Brass, 21. Rice.