DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC ACROSS

1 Retreat after skinhead was close cropped (6) 4 Superficial element ends in universal setting (8) 10 Polish off his bed after being dragged through the mud (9)

11 To sound like a nag is to sound negative (5)

12 Bit precious to reduce energy (4)

13 One rushing to embrace Yank in sentimental story (10)

15 Troublemaker at home baking dish (7)

16 Publican concealed weapon throughout Prohibition (6)

20 Master of horror essay in verse (6)

21 Homeless person is happy to be the Gulf (3,4) 24 Work men rake off final profit from the capitalist system (4,6)

26 Herb expert (4)

28 Fool to go round by pit (5)

29 Give forth ground to contest (5,4)

30 Stretcher provided by former nurse (8)

31 Sit out of athletics contest in home of winter sport (6)

DOWN

1 Trim tree (6)

2 Lingerie turned hitech fashion into market trade (9) 3 Superior neighbor seen in galleries (4)

5 Love rude design around the bottom of bar stools (6) 6 Resort or motel can put in order (5,5)

7 Mull over some hint when mixing cocktail (5)

8 Orderly testing echo on opening (8)

9 Fervently hope nothing will rise from the ashes (7) 14 Barmy army interrupted individual lawyer on television (5,5)

17 The press took enviable odds in the Middle Ages (9) 18 Pouted at model in the latest style (2-2-4) 19 Elizabeth’s favourite sort of hair gel (7)

22 Waste time changing filter (6)

23 Studied Shakespearian hero before some of the Bible (6)

25 Country of the east with extremely gory past (5) 27 Shut a husband inside Mormon home (4)