CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Money from account withdrawn, friend grabbing it (7)

5 Slack police department going after learner driver in fact dropping back (7)

9 Drink fit for a king knocked back (5)

10 Chatty regular drunk, dropping ale finally over us (9)

11 At paper that’s trendy, retaining old charm (10)

12 Russian leader it is fair to ignore on a regular basis (4) 14 Surely not! Article (and another in French) by bridge player is just the same (12)

18 More and more anglers in icy waves (12)

21 The Queen’s address in both directions? (4)

22 At home with part covering piano examination (10) 25 Instant suspicion after time with wife (9)

26 That is keeping scoundrel angry (5)

27 We learn about rehabilitation (7) 28 Burns pens introduction to rhapsody for vocalists (7)

DOWN

1 Possible location of wine merchant, we hear (6) 2 Untidy place where one might find litter (6) 3 Intimidated teen worried in series of postings on internet message board (10) 4 Unimportant predicament? Not at first (5)

5 Force with soldiers and American became lost (9) 6 Fever upset the Ugandans to some extent (4) 7 Lector is moving religious residence (8)

8 Hell — bit of hair creates anguish (8)

13 Thought of liner, etc, at sea (10) 15 Vital German city — it rises above a lake (9) 16 Heavenly body under coat — Marilyn Monroe, perhaps (4,4) 17 Party time (8)

19 Diatribe from one stuck in traffic (6) 20 Enjoyable? Female leaves a smaller amount if not (6) 23 Leaves errand boys (5) 24 Small gardens in London at an angle (4)