CRYP TIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Element found in centre of scan? (7) 5 Price set wrongly with no end of fuss? It comes from the till (7) 9 Something penned by astronomical man — a chronology (7) 10 Endurance shown by southern army besieging dictator (7) 11 Notes shown by staff? (5) 12 Provider of cover in retirement? (9) 13 Odd extreme for TV lawyer (7) 14 Men at work getting advantage largely as a body (2,5) 16 Companion to a canine in a trap? (7) 19 An expert in safe delivery? (7) 22 Dodgy snack found in pound? It’s an unreliable area (9) 24 Expert in posh car becoming a speed merchant? (5) 25 Copper, perhaps, in part of cooker (7) 26 Network? A Celt with it gets broadcast (7) 27 Blow on the funny bone perhaps dislodged ringlet (7) 28 Deal, say, by European conservationists offering future warning (7)

DOWN

1 Athlete once wasted term taking time out in place of study (7) 2 Single amount of bread? (4,3) 3 Harmless cousin sound at heart possibly (9) 4 Ghastly Scotsman, a tiresome chap nothing less (7) 5 What’s left I’d sure found strange round back of home (7) 6 Embrace son interrupting strike (5) 7 Old company head showing warmth? The opposite (7) 8 Garbage close to street? Move awkwardly (7) 15 Church official departs on time in car (9) 16 Poles separately appearing in quite involved legal event (7) 17 Treason, say, with a note regarding a war? (7) 18 Regime vacated perhaps extra nuclear facility (7) 19 Damp flu circulating — one should protect against dirt on an estate (7) 20 Lean chicken, initially, among favoured set of goods (7) 21 Make time in New York to get serious (7) 23 Signal of end given by orangeseller, we hear (5)