CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Missile arriving at final base split to opposite ends (8) 5 Charlady who regrets loss of hair, we hear (3,3) 9 Unfortunate happening gets a change of leader in the West (8) 10 Use its elements to make fine texture (6) 12 Horse from the same yard loses first bid, resulting in deadlock (9) 13 Concubines are detained in Her Majesty’s prison (5) 14 Girl returns with authorised version of subject (6) 17 Optimum inclusion of a noxious creature (5) 20 Recoil at having victory over church (5) 21 Small but, with the right collection, beautifully formed (6) 24 Make contact at junction with cry of pain (5) 25 Egyptian location entailed going round by Libya first (4,5) 28 Fireplace that’s hot home to a fox (6) 29 It’s very tiny, like a biting fly with terminal irritation (1,7) 30 Re-phrase that for hi malayan climb er (6) 31 Roman philosopher organised conspiracy in America (8) DOWN 1 French novelist found in bemused stupor (6) 2 Central heating with external borrowing provides small body of water (6) 3 Travel on horseback with girl and Gaelic drum (5) 4 Scots girl cuts down geans (5) 6 Return to experience what lady might wear on horseback? (9) 7 Behave badly towards master? It’s wicked (8) 8 Grabs the initiative when tempers flare after first performance (3-5) 11 Scottish jam from France I take to East Neuk town (6) 15 Pharaoh voices approval over trending record (9) 16 Back covering of upper class? That’s boot-licking (6) 18 Keeps a look-out on Sunday for samples of cloth (8) 19 Wave as not fitting, we hear, to be held up (8) 22 What police may do to motorists at RTA caused by large quantity of booze (6) 23 Tin ear in evidence at film festival (6) 26 Disinfectant held in oily solution (5) 27 Wander aimlessly at break-up after first day (5)