CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Water bird, one that’s in decline (6) 4 Gusher’s output providing energy – strong power source (8) 9 American coming to the forefront of most unusual book (6) 10 A sports official wearing appropriate item – not this (8) 12 Spots danger coming from such actions (4) 13 & 17 Across Enjoy an innings of torment after being dismissed very quickly (4,1,3,3,2,4) 14 Flier uses electronic equipment first (4) 17 See 13 Across 20 Looks to the future with pacy attack (4-8) 23 Extremist regularly found in Stormont (4) 24 State of excitement that’s less half-hearted! (5) 25 TV presenter with current member of opposition (4) 28 Drive to the side of the road in Jersey (8) 29 Roman soldiers, say, suffering fate of victims in Colosseum? (6) 30 What could provide meatiest quote (8) 31 Craftier character on radio (6)

DOWN

1 Cooked bird – I ate a mouthful (8) 2 A fluke perhaps in HQ of the Red Devils? (8) 3 Festival the queen doesn’t attend to make a point (4) 5 Weapon the army endlessly redeployed in bloomer (12) 6 Waste product from bureaucracy (4) 7 One line of mathematicians with popular appeal (6) 8 Character in middle of manic state? (6) 11 Beating champion ice-hockey team? (3,2,3,4) 15 French aristocrat occupied with old coin (5) 16 Escaped criminal, not English, holding women (5) 18 Flourish having simple breakfast food prepared (8) 19 Person transferring assets in the manner of Italian gentleman (8) 21 Fastener regularly used (6) 22 Miscellaneous collection of biblical characters (3,3) 26 Class structure (4) 27 River to cause erosion (4)