CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

3 Place is oddly exceptional (7) 7 Peter managed with acceptable name (6) 8 Sportsman depicted as Roman (7) 9 Flog directions to students (4) 11 Nothing but affection (4) 12 Fleas fly? Not true (5) 15 Conceal the skin (4) 16 Terribly tired without right food regime (4) 17 Drama involving a rope (5) 18 Air of invention (4) 19 Blessed with not as much (4) 21 Left article about lion woolly stuff (7) 22 Very good policeman on beat, initially (6) 23 Agent sent out regrets (7)

DOWN

1 Liberate at no cost (4) 2 Pie does improve instalment (7) 3 Pinched a shawl (5) 4 Pale sort of ring (4) 5 Notice access outside affected by torrents (8) 6 Clean off tip of the knife (6) 10 Eternally is always extra (8) 11 Slippery around rim (3) 13 Oil supplier worked in Leeds (7) 14 Ready for collection (3) 15 Monkey makes gaffe (6) 18 Goddess in heaven, usually (5) 19 Lean on table (4) 20 She’s a gem (4)

Solutions in tomorrow’s Daily Mirror