CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Unruly character still got a place in the draw (4,4)

5 Head off on walks, but takes one’s time about it (6)

9 It may be perfect, but lose out on a process (8)

10 Might an examiner use a blue pencil to edit things out? (6)

12 Brought up at the back, in front of a little boy (6)

13 Have to wait to dish out the food (5)

16 Find stars, in the first place, by a stretch of water in Ireland (6)

17 Criminal feuds could turn out to be rather disorganised (8)

20 Is it wrong to make contact with the wider community? (8)

21 A courier had to stick it out, with little hesitation (6)

23 Have a mental picture of a figure, for example (5) 25 Get protection in 7 down, offering sanctuary (6)

28 Is dressed up, ready to drive off (2,4)

29 Others have to come down to exercise control (8)

30 May trap her underground (6)

31 One girl can be quite appealing (8)

DOWN

1 Pack up a shroud; just in case (4)

2 Was going round in circles, far away (4)

3 Pass on some teams to a workmate (9)

4 Throw back a distillation vessel, about to go wrong (6)

6 Comes across matches befitting Sunday (5) 7 Had no choice, so took final holiday destination (4,6)

8 Dresser had to run away, but gives up (10) 11 One day, man, in short, used the local dialect (5)

14 Work on one’s stance, when out of office (10)

15 Leave in good order, and didn’t 22 down again (2,8)

18 Aircraft on the attack about to invade a cargo ship (9)

19 Count up the runs, to 20 in fact (5)

22 It’s wrong to finish up in disgust (6)

24 First lady had a daughter she had to steer clear of (5)

26 Old essayist left a doctor behind (4)

27 Some time ago, she was in a concert party (4)