CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. It’s possibly worth pursuing rock group a short distance (6,5) 9. A French touch strangely lacking refinement (7) 10. Where nurses are mostly ahead (7)

11. Oz native enthralled by dance music (3)

12. Hide formerly in California (7)

13. Europeans wearing black can be spotted (7) 14. An ingredient of dyestuffs? Definitely (3) 15. Savour experience (5)

17. City in France, partly on Saône to some extent (5) 18. Jazz style first to break box office record limits (5) 20. Query point about posh

book (5) 22. Dutch writer’s not bright (3)

24. In the distant past new crack appeared in privy (4,3)

25. Slim small bank perhaps (7)

26. Cobblers go off (3)

27. Old fellows and boy maintain old shed (7)

28. Sly egghead tracks sport (7)

29. They carry drinks from milk supplier, and bread with sort of 14 (3,8)

Down

1. Second bee infects skin badly — apply for this financial support? (8,7) 2. Work fast to impress posh and wealthy (7)

3. The Spanish obtain article for woman (5)

4. After a short time, French artist creates bride’s clothing etc (9)

5. Untreated wood getting unfair treatment (3,4) 6. Ardent condition, characteristic of mammals and birds (4-11)

7. Furore in court distressed by jury’s conclusion (6)

8. Like places for filming properties (6)

16. Team to lay out extra greens, perhaps (4,5) 18. Bulls do it, left under shelters (6)

19. Instrument pal designed to cover a No 1 compilation (7)

21. Start to try mixed cereal and syrup (7)

23. Ruin nearly all of ME city, one suffering constantly (6)

25. Where to keep horse safe at first? Unlikely (5)