CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Modernise tavern, English,

containing old tank (8)

5 Stored fodder in May? How

extraordinary! (6)

9 Charlie trained to round Land’s

End using bearings (8)

10 Like staircase with small rail

winding around post (6)

12 View bottom of barrel, overturned, to find these (4)

13 After 6, one enters Euston,

say, to make formal call (10) 15 Housing cooperative (13)

19 Idiots with pencils displayed

disagreement (5,8)

23 Honest Los Angeles faction

accepts an offer (3-7)

25 Fine artist’s ‘Ladies Fingers’

(4)

28 Bill allowed portable device

(6)

29 Superior skill includes playing organ (8)

30 German who’s taking off

weight? (6)

31 Network ID menus are misused (8)

DOWN

1 Smokers do this at home with hot drink (6)

2 Crossing river, tied up bottle

(5)

3 Officer supports very old unit

of force (4)

4 Nuclear fuel constituent? President briefly keeps it on island (7)

6 First letter received by local

pharmacy (5)

7 Romantic sort recruits one

who sells boxes in US? (9)

8 Spring nearly dark? Just about

(4-4)

11 Attempt to restrict Irish government payment (4)

14 Small bed for Hamish perhaps (4)

15 Approved everything below

ground surrounding area (9) 16 One’s held by master of

ceremonies (3)

17 A big shot in cricket upset

league (4)

18 One’s had dinner among

elderly and lonely (8)

20 10 members of ill fated

dynasty (4)

21 Pub commercials involving

Republican showed guts (7) 22 Cover religious books chap’s

binding (6)

24 Note reverberates somewhat

when raised (5)

26 You’re probably up a gum

tree if you spot this (5)

27 Journey to ancient city (4)