CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Medic should do something about thirst when ... (7) 5 ... goat, for example, gets right into water tanker (7) 9 Slimming when well-covered, for nothing (3-4) 10 Parts of singularly wizard school exchanged for African beast (7) 11 Wine waiter found one prone on WWI battlefield (9) 12 Expression of surprise at seeing bottom of ship when first overboard (5) 13 Shoes repaired when back on Greek island (5) 15 Guests of Her Majesty may put robin redbreasts in cages (9) 16 WWII soldier to abandon traitor (6,3) 18 Macbeth, for example, setting one article around another (5) 21 Broadcast first class with colour (5) 22 Picnic food for winter visitor flying in? (9) 24 VAT is concluded with one initial account in North African country (7) 26 British weather brings start of emigration to country of Eastern Europe (7) 27 and 28 Most mouth-watering goal for Miss Brodie’s coterie (5,2,2,5)

DOWN

1 Reduced tension, perhaps, that defendant employed (7) 2 Limp to a solution that’s the best one can do (7) 3 The spines of this plant may draw blood when skin’s initially in contact (5) 4 Offering the feat of changing fickle destiny (3,6,2,4) 5 Function as merchandise when talking nonsense, so don’t wave red rag! (6,2,3,4) 6 10’s relative loses head in paddle (3) 7 Learned student got carried away by chorals (7) 8 Ignores realignment of areas (7) 12 Strike a boy in course of usual behaviour (5) 14 She would conceal footballer’s last strip (5) 16 Sandra’s tickled by intrusion that’s merciless (7) 17 Greys in trouble over drug equipment (7) 19 Deadly sin to be sorted out via care (7) 20 Somerset river to be given third poem by interpreter of text (7) 23 Severe storm this February changed conclusion of classical order (5) 25 Is this a girl you would take to court? (3)