CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Is hydrogen involved in marking when waving it about? (11)

8. Assesses what householder may get bill for (5)

9. Being ready for the post, put foot down hard (7)

10. Arrange attitude Diana takes up for portraitist (7)

11. One gets me holding silver, which looks just the same (5)

12. Threaten people with a service one can’t get back (6)

14. Bird led by bullet-headed dog (6)

18. Seeded with explosive devices backwards, which is material (5)

19. Greek letter to five hundred expired, spotted with dirt (7)

21. Do so at snooker table, complete head-off, in depression (7)

23. Each half presented to ‘X’ is corroded (5)

24. Rather have people on backstreet to advances for clergy (11)

DOWN

1. It makes one weary of being Communist in trade expansion (7)

2. One skilled in craft is an afterpart to painting (7)

3. In the party is a hundred where dancing is concerned (5)

4. Bodily organism may be followed by one playing roulette (6)

5. Picture how the Wise Men got in in the East (7)

6. Turn the page, almost, if there’s room to get through it (3)

7. Projection at length went first to Greece, first and last (5)

13. Settle oneself down to write music (7)

15. Look wet, note – and hark! (7)

16. Codas finish up in Gilbert and Sullivan initially (7)

17. Physical education given in change for dime may hamper one (6)

18. Work among the dead after a loss, being high (5)

20. Think up what may be got from a pipe (5)

22. Having given up marijuana, one cannot get higher (3)