WEE THINKER

Across

5 Send her my poem (5) 8 Little possibility of losing weight (3,6) 9 Bristle somehow causes swelling (7) 10 Rosie damaged the tree (5) 11 A massage on a Caribbean island (5) 13 Fixes factories (6) 16 Mock trainee at the plant (6) 18 New tonal nail (5) 20 Fish in corner (5) 22 Food riots to develop (7) 24 Nearly let out for evermore (9) 25 Fumed about grade (5)

Down

1 Unconventional bit of syncopation (7) 2 View of self-confidence (8) 3 Host managed small drink (4) 4 Catch parent out (6) 5 Loud snare not used (8) 6 Send it back after the old monster (4) 7 Former queen has time to make an effort (5) 12 Read news out and replied (8) 14 Narrate story that’s revealing (8)

Across

1 Thieve (5) 6 Explosion (5) 9 Fecund (7) 10 Slatted wooden case (5) 11 Major religion (5) 12 Denim trousers (5) 13 A fitter of horseshoes (7) 15 Speck (3) 17 Plant type (4) 18 Slander (6) 19 Allude (5) 20 View or glance (6) 22 Food fish (4) 24 Decompose (3) 25 Road surfacing material (7) Iron, for example (5) 26 15 Many not worried — it means quite the reverse (7) 17 Darrel ran to pantry (6) 19 Earls moving to the light (5) 21 Percussion award (4) 23 Offences of criminals in Spain (4) 27 Perfect (5) 28 Protect (5) 29 Forbidden by law (7) 30 A play (5) 31 Remains (5)

Down 2 Deposit on teeth (6) 3 Dessert, informally (6) 4 Sheltered side (3) 5 Guide (5) 6 Excellent performance in sport (7) 7 Minus (4) 8 Skiing race (6) 12 Gem (5) 13 Five-pound note (5) 14 Fastening pin (5) 15 Fact (5) 16 Native of Texas (5) 18 Satan (5) 19 German measles (7) 21 Over there (6) 22 Confusion or disorder (6) 23 Almost (6) 25 Ring-shaped roll (5) 26 Mutilate (4) 28 Domestic fuel (3)