CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Charge arising from many a nasty bite! (5)

6 A rope trick at Covent Garden? (5)

9 Wintry wind possibly taken to heart by alarmists (7)

10 Prevents from getting new posts (5)

11 Neglected to arrange a tryout for us (5)

12 The quality of a cool-headed girl (5)

13 To be truthful, it could be nicer in the southeast (7)

15 Leaves in paper bags, perhaps (3)

17 Plan of the area? (4)

18 State the island’s in (6)

19 Is he one to swan around? (5)

20 Persuaded more than one person to be made redundant? (6)

22 Steamy stuff said to be on sale at a pawnshop? (4)

24 Last of seven days? (3)

25 Supported the suggestion that a tedious fellow be dismissed (4,3)

26 Welsh girl with terribly low ways (5)

27 Bad news about one who’s simply a rotter (5)

28 Sculptor little Rodney got friendly with (5)

29 Animated game? (7)

30 Shelters used by the replacement players? (5)

31 Cigarettes kept out of the way of the teeth! (5)

DOWN

2 Lead to getting in late, possibly (6) 3 When the little devil gets to work, it’s a blow! (6)

4 This’ll make you sit up! (3)

5 Over which to be helped in sound style? (5)

6 They may be all in the same boat (7)

7 It’s of extra significance (4)

8 It’s bad and seems right over the top to most men (6)

12 Many people exult a lot! (5)

13 Agitatedly paces the room (5)

14 Damon, wandering (5)

15 Thanks to a book being unfinished, it’s banned (5)

16 One chap who may have news for you (5)

18 Look up this spike and you’ll see it has no tip (5)

19 Hunters whose job is to prevent escape? (7)

21 Hardly the street for a headon collision! (3-3)

22 It causes players to leap around (6)

23 Phone about the letters with the official decision (6)

25 Where, being stranded, one could have a ball! (5)

26 A unique occasion (4)

28 He runs around, whistling (3)