CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS 3 Reinforce a cushion (7) 7 Dare to work with the French businessman (6) 8 Shout about man being dependent (7) 9 Secures site badly (4) 11 Teashop in town stocks stronger drink (4) 12 I step out on the slope (5) 15 Charge on time and distance (4) 16 Meagre sort of hint (4) 17 Raid carried out by old medium (5) 18 Rent out a wader (4) 19 Disrupt loud pastime (4) 21 Belittle each new writer (7) 22 Needless to lose ship bait (6) 23 Rest set out ways (7)

DOWN 1 Brooding about god (4) 2 Father, terribly tired, had a good time (7) 3 Spilt beer on top of the hat (5) 4 Raw materials from the forest (4) 5 Ghost finds journalist enthusiastic (8) 6 Awful to rent out (6) 10 Suggest getting familiar (8) 11 Ape mixed up vegetable (3) 13 Hides veils (7) 14 Hitting with container (3) 15 Disturbance about a scarf (6) 18 Terribly nuts about English songs (5) 19 Loaned fast (4) 20 Liberate at no cost (4)