Crossword

Across

1. Alcoholic drink taken before a

meal (8) 5. Assist (4) 8. Sprig (4) 9. Soporific (drug) (8) 10. Properties (7) 12. Aristocrat (5) 15. Block (5) 16. Looks briefly (7) 20. Understood (8) 21. Indian humped ox (4) 22. Large-handled tools with thin metal blades for cutting weeds (4) 23. Follower of Christ (8)

Down

1. Solemn hymns of praise (7) 2. Be alive (5) 3. Tint (5) 4 & 13. Blaze-fighters (4,7) 6. Hold spellbound (7) 7. Hickory (5) 11. Prank (5) 12. Country that changed its name to

Myanmar (5) 13. See 4 down 14. Action to evoke a response (7) 15. Deciduous tree (5) 17. Public open-air swimming pools (5) 18. Crawl (5) 19. Second-hand (4)