CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Gathering it’s improving (7,2) 6. Reduce percentage (3) 8. Eccentric members of society have a crazy hairdo (7,6)

9. Stop or pass on (5)

10. Trusting Robin perhaps (7)

11. Cad gets right with the beast (6)

13. Pecan, a sort of appetiser (6)

16. Men in line went first and caused irritation (7)

18. Initially Richard and I examine the bolt (5)

20. Valley possibly is a rundown region (9,4)

22. Clutch component! (3)

23. Digging is sheer drudgery (9)

DOWN

1. Friend having most of the stake (3)

2. Many with Alan moving about on the water (5) 3. Concentrated in the past maybe (7)

4. Got one vehicle inside another (2-4)

5. Copper illegally covers up danger (5)

6. Is able to rubbish a musical composition (7)

7. Dealing with management (9) 9. Case for an explosive vehicle on the hill (9)

12. One used by those securing temporary accommodation (4,3)

14. Shorten a game (7)

15. Poems as sent back to Black Sea port (6)

17. City is in first place, we hear (5)

19. Covers over part of the lefthand page (5)

21. Request to lie in the sun topless (3)