CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Service batteries about to attack (8)

5 A slight indistinct sound (4)

9 A South American bird to foster, we hear (4)

10 Honest, this man is a stooge (8)

11 & 22Ac Pure tales involving a number of heart-throbs (5-4) 12 His trip is before the end of August (7)

13 A recognised countryman won’t suffer from this condition (13)

18 Train workers to be drivers (8) 19 Walks quietly to rocket platforms (4)

20 Propagated a variety of alder you found inside (7)

21 Using a piece of stuff, I break the thread (5)

22 See 11Ac.

23 The telephone’s out of order at the last possible moment (8)

DOWN

2 Wear out a car component (7) 3 The chief fixed the earphones (7)

4 Suffers some irritation and receives an injection (4,3,6)

6 The last of the fuel to catch fire? (7)

7 Toaster turns haphazardly (7) 8 Nobleman loses right to be a member of guerrilla band (6) 13 Clues are endlessly diverse, but certainly not ecclesiastical (7) 14 We hear he keeps records of one who breaks down at work (7) 15 Strongly urge to take part in complex horticulture (6)

16 Well versed in Latin translation describing the wedding ceremony (7)

17 Smoother roads in new layout (3-4)

Yesterday’s solutions:

Across: 1 Depots. 4 Cruses. 9 Choreographer. 10 Overtop. 11 Thorn. 12 Usage. 14 Grate. 18 Moral. 19 Rampant. 21 Statesmanship. 22 Duenna. 23 Charge.

Down: 1 Doctor. 2 Professoriate. 3 Treat. 5 Reactor. 6 School-teacher. 7 Spring. 8 Agape. 13 Galleon. 15 Amused. 16 Prime. 17 Staple. 20 Munch.