CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. A pawnbroker once called Eme (5)

4. Scull the boat back to the vessel and take part in service (7)

8. Need dream to be shattered as one wandered aimlessly around (9)

9. Vehicle that starts cornering as required (3)

10. It is not sharp, neither is it synthetic (7)

12. A figure in Trafalgar Square, or one in half of the capital (4)

14. Worked, with wool, tent kid may have fashioned (7)

17. Be in want when turned out of Eden (4)

18. Is making a home for the gents in the confusion (7)

20. Constrictor found in a dinghy that’s not been finished (3)

21. Shows how verdant it is through lack of experience (9)

23. The essential part might melt with no end of 17 (7)

24. Flower that’s much in evidence around 2nd July (5)

DOWN

1. Can’t be said there’s no blue: time Ann had it sorted out (13)

2. Is talkative, and spiteful about her to begin with (6)

3. Grin nude turns on doesn’t fade (8) 8/11

4. A time for fighting was not finished right (3)

5. To be up is to lie at anchor (4)

6. A fevered way to etch one with carbon (6)

7. They feel bumps may spoil her tongs perhaps (13)

11. Language that may be American where they speak Spanish (5)

13. It is particular to one son Pearl produced (8)

15. Something that threatens people with a service they can’t return (6)

16. Amuse people with a Verdi variation at end of concert (6)

19. Fever starts, unfortunately, in senility (4)

22. When in the theatre, one can have a meal (3) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 2. Flint 5. Pose 7. Smut 8. Inundate 9. Snatched

11. Body 12. Concentration 15. Port 17. Purchase

19. Reticent 21. Bury 22. Week 23. Stout

Down: 1. Memento 2. Fit 3. Irish 4. Thunder 5. Pad 6. Sated

10. Tacit 11. Botch 13. Nippers 14. Observe 16. Obese

18. Ratio 20. Irk 21. Bat