CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Stopped reading mystery (6,4) 6 Vow to meet large star (4) 10 Do detective’s business (5) 11 Rude about Verrocchio’s first bust (9)

12 Genuine backing over offer to sell plant (8) 13 Coffee ultimately follows wrong dessert (5)

15 When students can be seen rattling tins, making music (7) 17 Rubbish close to house, ‘Two Trees’ (7)

19 Ivan set out to find locals (7) 21 Quiet auntie fabricated what’s seen in bed? (7) 22 Country reportedly took action on article (5) 24 Such as John Lennon display fit of temper in review (8) 27 One defends Murray’s penultimate game point (9) 28 Night out perhaps with daughter, 25 (5)

29 Run section of haberdashery (4) 30 Modern Christmas? (7-3) DOWN

1 Final passage from programmer, reportedly (4) 2 Offensive lout hangs about (9) 3 Bring to mind agreement accepted by the First Lady (5) 4 Spotted hack, maybe, playing blinder (7) 5 Watch old boy produce an ace? (7)

7 Dull terror with Republican replacing last Democrat (5) 8 Landlord with brain printed paper (10) 9 Abuse something that cheers patient? (3-5) 14 Place for spectators to show off (10) 16 Creative person reduced stock (8)

18 A news journalist under contract regularly added text (9) 20 One’s more uncertain on this ground (7)

21 Very good prices for those from Penzance? (7) 23 Lawrence has nameless ships (5) 25 Look up and study antique (5) 26 Nervous on the border? (4)