CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Heap of manure has dulling effect around hotel (8)

5 Abandon last chance of thin spread (6) 9 Quash disposition to be a rag (8)

10 He may take hostage to top of hill (6) 12 Model of theory matches plan without initial trouble (6)

13 Novelist will outlive the winter (5) 16 Coastal grass to be seen in both directions (6)

17 Eg his fun is ruined by Chinese environmental art (4,4)

20 Mend rupture given extra time, perhaps (3-5)

21 Opening of French museum (6)

23 50/50 chance of no 7 ending up in front (5) 25 Birth place of a truly original australian animal (6)

28 At home and not at home, sort of (2,1,3) 29 take care to get this to know the time (5,3) 30 Flicker in total squalor (6)

31 Last month salesman – computers – was doddering (8)

DOWN

1 Put down on face (4)

2 Redistribution of rank may irritate (4) 3 Stoned one in charge of baby’s seat (4,5) 4 Collection of kittens will need this, no doubt (6)

6 Train – or part of it (5)

7 Pudding to contain bay rum, for example (10)

8 Take first step, perhaps, for lark (5,5) 11 Sheep-pig will be heard to make a hell of a noise (5)

14 Squeal about the business of superficial knowledge (10) 15 A live tree around the north is neither here nor there (10)

18 One practising at 17 for race men go mad about (9) 19 Islamic ruling suspend soil over washington (5)

22 Leap I’m making over stake (6) 24 Remorse shown for false direction (5) 26 Will you find chickens in this store? (2-2) 27 Stiff jump little ones come up with (4)