CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

8 A clay pit is not exactly abnormal (8)

9 Allow customers to come in and speak freely (4,2)

10 Pay a quick visit to leave original textile (6) 11 Last pine cut up to make roofing material (8) 12 Gamble on top mark, get second class (4) 13 Take care when getting off – worry about age difference, perhaps (4,3,3) 15 Smooth over a very soft comfort (7)

17 Girl who enabled communications company to cross stretch of high ground (7) 20 Royal Society of Arts accommodated in nunnery got acquainted (10)

22 It’s retrogressive to include a Hindu ritual that’s obsolete (4)

24 Gets a better version of unfortunate rude gasp (8)

26 Expressing disapproval for courtship, swapping black for white (6) 27 Platforminitiallypromotinghatred(6) 28 Have tern change into another bird? He said: “Nevermore!” (3,5)

DOWN

1 Fall guy goes to hell (6)

2 Crime writer who’s in his right mind when taken drug (8)

3 He’s thrifty, but as far as the environment’s concerned, not tight with money (10) 4 Operation required covering with arm support at an angle (7)

5 Business at home with money (4) 6 Dancer is eating hidden cherry (6)

7 See a gulf developing in body of aircraft (8) 14 Record decks that put the boot on the other foot (10)

16 Pour scorn on tale of “The Two Bears”? (4-4)

ROS SHERARD 18 Getting rid of idol, pass muster (8) 19 Oxbridge term may change when about to be tested in exam (7)

21 Very minor shortcomings result in rats, for example (6)

23 Can the German produce firelighter? (6) 25 Vocally challenged, in view of the French doctor (4)