CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Beg to see fairy tales (7)

5 This owl is first to spot police (5)

11 It’s less than the teller illegally sold (5,3,7) 13 and 12 Domestic exchange to support tabloid, say (5,4)

14 Legal command shows a sense of humour while concealing primary rigour (4) 17 Bookshop that puts a spanner in the works, we hear (6)

18 Water fleas could nip hand nastily (7) 20 For example, the new recital (7) 22 Scottish game that’s like Japanese religion until the end (6)

24 Told fibs when initially looked into every detail (4)

25 Viz drag the thing (2,3) 26 Environment agency imitates going backwards (4)

29 Play so for a merry code: play (1,6,2,6) 30 Love to make fuss about (5)

31 Set out to see outcome of execution (4,3)

DOWN

2 Where egotistical driver takes up position of moderation (6,2,3,4)

3 Left normal master (4)

4 Set hare free – or puts in microwave, perhaps (7)

6 Business ready for aggressive takeover (4) 7 Pan’s with the one who whistles admiringly at children’s music (5,3,3,4)

8 A thug smashes anything (5) 9 Scraped off surface when climbed (6) 10 Open art fashion that’s versatile (7) 15 Oh dearie me, there’s something missing (5) 16 Mining waste reveals phosphorus in earth (5)

19 Competent to make up contents of Greek letter about frozen scene (7) 21 The pony melts the heart of the person it’s named for (6)

22 Small boat will be heard to produce jazzstyle music (7)

23 Ballet designer showed no hesitation entering Sherlock Holmes’ area (5) 27 Change direction, not north-east of surface appearance (4)

28 Minded losing a measure of status (4)