CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

17 249

Across

1. Support object of ridicule on ship (8)

5. Uncertain feelings in director before wild bouts (6)

9. Stream and lake you notice principally in New York borough (8)

10. A posh companion in time ignoring amateur?

That’s socially awkward (6)

12. Learner in bed in Paris has pleasing accent (4)

13. Loner in tat to be replaced? That’s narrow-minded (10)

15. Social service home’s wall seen to crumble (5,2,6)

19. Basic purpose in West, for example (8,5)

23. Surprisingly reuse those places for children to play in? (4,6)

25. Expert around start of holiday gets pain (4)

28. How one might describe drivers held up and suffering difficulty? (2,1,3)

29. Women in sequence first off in places producing drink (8)

30. Chap given an article in South American country (6)

31. Jacob’s enclosure? (5,3)

Down

1. Lively celebratory drink? (6)

2. Charge about right for online provocateur (5)

3. Slender person’s garden implement (4)

4. Expressions with no weight influencing society (7)

6. Ordinary fellow with a good energy is legally responsible? (2,3)

7. A butcher’s having shift in European capital (9)

8. Most delightful course established (8)

11. Take part in coupling (4)

14. Some formal investigation in African country (4)

15. Money-oriented type shortly only near ground in Cyprus (9)

16. Bird found in narrow lane (3)

17. Gesture to stop barrage (4)

18. Very critical son having obsession about California (8)

20. A thing to fasten coat (not half) for neighbour (4)

21. Irritable Eve in a restless state wearing an impatient expression (7)

22. Mellow autumn, perhaps (6)

24. Try name for promoter Barry (5)

26. Invigorating party food (5)

27. By the sound of it, top player gets to give up (4)