CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Brief facts and figures about one working at terminals (8)

5 Start to dig in, in good order, when eating out (6)

9 As our predecessors lacked energy, one gives up (8)

10 In Calais, it’s good to get hold of a flat cap (6)

12 A Liberal fellow, commonly, followed in the recess (6)

13 The first song on the French record might make one conk out (5) 16 Stop having a race, initially, with the others (6) 17 Evict one from a girl’s place of residence (8) 20 Is lining up with relish to use fertiliser (8) 21 Join, getting short notice at present (6) 23 Locate a place for games in the town square, naturally (5)

25 Took in a patient, to prepare for something that might happen (2,4)

28 Soldiers have a lot of spirit, at source (6) 29 One day, got back to one sort of drone ... (8) 30 ... and call round one day, when travelling over part of the county (6)

31 One has no idea when 31 leaves a gap (8)

DOWN

1 Can be quite subdued, in some ways, often enough (4)

2 Is off the mark, having a distorted view (4) 3 Have some understanding, and leans towards visionaries (9)

4 Managed to back on line, to be precise (6) 6 Presses one boy to take the first session (5) 7 Hints at implications of casting aspersions (10)

8 I get scoop about Europe, in short, but can’t cope with it (2,2,6)

11 Take the plunge to ask for help, in the end (5)

14 Condemned to exhausting physical effort. It’s difficult work (4,6)

15 At liberty, on time, to do without instruction in 22 down (4,6)

18 Left some lines on a tablet to act as a magnet (9)

19 Father left at his wit’s end by grotesque characters (5)

22 At first sight, one’s relaxed about hard discipline (6)

24 Fall in with several ignorant types (6) 26 Second about to get something extra (4) 27 Left three hands on the table under a magnifying glass (4)