CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 See 25

4 Washed out, like 22Dn grounded around head of loch (8)

9 Element of humility with no happy ending, being crushed (7)

11 Three months in Clemency Lodge? (7)

12/17 Extra hollow legs always caught predatory fish (5,4)

13 Sign of something wrong - pieces are mutants (1-3)

14 See 23

16 Dewar, careening wildly, was a great Scottish 19Ac (6,8)

19 Strip Lothian with extremely harsh treatment by donor (14)

23/14 Chief cook, finishing early, admits a problem (8)

24 See 6 Down

25/1 Cobalt skies, for a change, in Sutherland home of 16Ac (5,6)

27 Sign in front of railway one of 16Ac’s many gifts (7)

28 One conceding eradication of source of virus from fresh delivery (7)

29 Overseer arranged playpens (3,5)

30 See 8 Down

STAPLETON

DOWN

1 Came and told about sliced ham and corned beef, perhaps (4,4)

2 Midge in dust storm gets stitched up (7)

3 Carelessness ignoring where treasure’s found – they haven’t taken orders (5)

5 Rehabilitation centres with endless line of people, unsafe to incorporate waiters holding starters of Drambuie? (7,6)

6/24 Starts to acquire wisdom as you will improbably notch several victories elsewhere (4,4)

7 Punch a jaw – finish off tech company (7)

8/30 Major winner drank clearer cocktail (6,6)

10 Mutant canine/pony mix could be a source of pine nuts in south-west US (7,6)

15 Protagonist of Fiddler on the Roof? (4)

17 See 12 Across

18 Races out in a whirl to where it all kicks off (2,6)

20 Responsible lad – he has a dismembered body (4,3)

21 Hesitation following breaking of rigid support beam (1-6)

22 Pod creatures with very big calves (6)

25 Scottish Liberal baron the source of 16Ac’s riches (5)

26 The middle of nowhere for everyone, but

16Ac had one in Manhattan (4)