CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,494

ACROSS

1 Get smaller deal (8) 5 Unable to disperse cloud (6) 9 Religious course — nearly guess it by end of study (8) 10 Expansion of golf at Wentworth went off badly (6) 12 By the sound of it, hero is out of work (4) 13 Explorer’s coming by two rivers (10) 15 Organise a floor display when tricks are played (5,5,3) 19 Conservative old lady there mistreated in a callous way (4-9) 23 Regular payment for part of serial (10) 25 It reverberates from fine choristers (4) 28 Increasingly poor agent? (6) 29 Artistic ‘Carmen’ oddly recalling different musical show (8) 30 Substitute group of skiers at Zermatt (6) 31 Supporter hadn’t managed to enlist before (8)

DOWN

1 Notice police officer in church who helps on course? (6) 2 Northern Rock goes belly-up due to service (5) 3 Old character’s radical French article (4) 4 Fortress initially covered with ornate detail (7) 6 Peg heads north to trap Greek wader (5) 7 Inexperienced? You’ll drown swimming without a ring (9) 8 A lost pet’s running round hotel where burnt-out cases go (8) 11 Reject spoiled vote (4) 14 Vault rare in a church (4) 15 A large cat’s circling us? These mention it indirectly (9) 16 Nearly sack wood supplier (3) 17 Where primarily leisurely individuals dive outdoors? (4) 18 Dash off south on cold river (8) 20 Poor gifts collected during Palm Sunday (4) 21 Like some academics, turned off touring Spain (7) 22 Foreign Office holiday where 16s are found (6) 24 Warn an officer holding ruler (5) 26 Anglicans inspire that chap to agree (5) 27 Fable partly related after revolution (4)