CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. It’s not yours, so rent out the first course perhaps (10)

6. Box for a boom or a gaff? (4)

10. What the country says goes: it’s established in acts (3,3,2,3,4)

11. Like Buttercup, he carried about a length of cloth (9)

12. Shirk a dutiful start when held by woman (5)

13. Coming from Agave, is taken in salt (5)

15. Informal party needs first to be a political one (6)

19. Petition one who settles bill when about right (6)

20. It returns, embarrassed, and needing a rest (5)

23. Titan held the heavens to show the world (5)

24. Chief boy/girl presentation? (9)

26. Of particular application to seriousness is the relative density (8,7)

27. Indicate N, S or W? (4)

28. Once more laid claim to a red steer’s conversion (10)

Down

1. Those to be gained in marriage are redheads, perhaps (7)

2. Hypodermics start to seem unnecessary (8)

3. One who works hard might put by about a pound (5)

4. Lousy trio making it in a wildly successful way (9)

5. Saltpetre: can it really reveal it? (5)

7. Like a flat surface to play? Nark finishes away (6)

8. Sappers get into a straight line for reparation (7)

9. Back from the dead, he even ran around the table-top (8)

14. Noble condition holds RIP to be wrong (8)

16. Typewriter parts used in conveyancing? (9)

17. Silent brother gives role over to old Bob in the pit (8)

18. Sloths held by king of the jungle: see the connection? (7)

21. Last minstrel’s song was indeed held up (7)

22. Professional’s customer showing spleen in Connecticut (6)

24. Lay a train to the best time on TV (5)

25. Long for credit? Hail the classics! (5)