CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. A person of importance, but not a definite person (8)

4. It is ground in the shape of an egg (4) 8. Between two anticyclones a short column may appear (3) 9. Skipping stone for a circumnavigator (5) 10. Show a film of a shoal of fish (3) 11. Can rely on it being got by theft (7) 12. Cut off a syllable and the Spanish will die out (5)

13. Pursuit by law might suit one, crop being destroyed (11)

17. Pour water over some toddler in Sellafield (5)

18. Be laced in such a way as to cause complete collapse (7)

20. Fuss, much of which was about nothing in play (3)

21. Such dressing alone makes garlicmustard (5)

22. Everything starts as latent life (3) 23. The sound of a note given to one losing his head (4)

24. Structure over door of Mint, deep as can be (8)

Down

1. A mawkish way to be ailing (6)

2. One of the things to be fed up to? (5) 3. It's one yard out in one's journal (5) 5. Dizziness will disappear after adjusting rivet (7)

6. For a time he gives one red a halfnelson and turns over (6)

7. Horrid as it may be to bleed, a test is necessary (10)

9. Awareness of clothes sends seer around the South (5,5)

14. Statement shows one to be in weakened health when separated (7) 15. Hookey played by one old vagrant (6) 16. Ball of shot the French put in hide with hair on (6)

18. Fruit shows up in turning red (5) 19. Earnestly ask five to race around like this (5)