CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Professional US magazine, highly esteemed, grew rapidly (12)

9 District gets prize, but not the first one (4)

10 Claims of Yorkshire town in need of hotel (9)

12 Start with nothing at home – get equipment installed (6)

13 Reading University agent about to spill the beans (8)

15 Criticise this set, unorthodox believers in divine nature? (10)

16 Language to get rid of when seen as heartless (4)

18 Uninspiring side, second to finish (4)

20 Saint troubled when joining in religious feast, showing dislike of ceremony (10)

23 River traversed by solitary person who lives near the Thames? (8)

24 One of the unpaid trainees? Bury has any number (6)

26 Celebrity, showing no interest, we hear? That’s right (9)

27 Old measure established by British inventor (4)

28 Troubled Penny toddles around, showing hope is lost? (12)

DOWN

2 What tells you to stop getting led astray – with proper protection (3,5)

3 See promotion offering lots (4)

4 I rant terribly when sat on by police? Definitely (3,7)

5 Artist gets disease – it must be something eaten (6)

6 Cheaper attire falling apart after short time (7)

7 Greediest man involved in quarrel (12)

8 Part of speech in which nothing initially is ruled out (6)

11 Army capturing Greek character

with 21 suffering put in 9? (12)

14 Tiny worker, one going round in circles (6,4)

17 Cold girl – one starts to beguile all lovers as maneater (8)

19 Servants providing repasts around Belfast etc. (7)

21 More than one model is accepting contract (6)

22 Volume repeatedly deficient? That’s a mistake (6)

25 Deity offering bold sign oddly missed (4)