CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Give somebody a medal to paint the room (8) 7. Thirty days for parking during rail dispute (5) 8. It shows how it works, so dig a ram out of it (7) 9. Best bets for those who run finance houses (7) 10. Soothe one in a practical manner (4) 12. Dwelt as one may have desired (7)

14. Is charming with women, perhaps (7) 17. Game of pool adapted for riders (4)

18. Miss one's footing, start sliding and take a fall (7)

21. It's wet outside and is regnant, one hears (7) 22. Invest one with only half the envy expected (5) 23. Water points could be dry in Hampshire (8)

Down

1. A dead loss : cut round it and take something off (6)

2. Sky pilot gave pal chain to play with (8) 3. From the rear it might look very underdone (4) 4. Wood used for building could be trim (6)

5. It is accurately adjusted by tuner without a name (4)

6. Concluded it was not open to all (6)

7. Many set out to achieve general pardon (7) 11. Some bother with our belt perhaps (7) 13. Strong attachment to one turning out in Exeter county (8)

14. One cleaning a space-filler under a nut (6) 15. Power needed to turn green at start of year (6) 16. Puts up with the way it gets stuck (6)

19. Our Dutch cousins use a different language (4) 20. Some familiarity with Ananias (4)

Yesterday's solution

Across 7. Communication 8. Magnanimous 12. Nougat 14. Native 16. Draped 18. Herons 19. Desecrating 23. Smoke detector

Down 1. Doom 2. Smug 3. Infant 4. Action 5. Otto 6. Boss 9. Adulate 10. Unicorn 11. Less 12. Node 13. Axe 15. Awe 17. Decade 18. Hearth 19. Dome 20. Sake 21. Inca 22. Glow