CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Entrapped without preparation when infected with virus (6,4)

6 Northern Ireland party’s returned with Ireland’s second symbol (4)

10 Apply hammer to nail, perhaps _ paint job required (3,2)

11 Touch paper and retire as Cambridge sportsperson (5,4)

12 Trusted couple placed in front of furnace (6)

13 Chocolate bar presented like fortified wine (7)

15 Talents heard in Scottish stories (6) 16 Privately concerned with gut of bug (2,6) 19 Ecstatic about English version that’s raised (8)

21 Topless, seen in mirror? You’re dead right! (4,2)

24 Scottish animal claw’d it ferociously (7) 26 Encroachment on street (6)

28 Frock coat, eg, tried on _ dismantled (9) 29 Northern atmosphere from 1 st november experienced in Highland town (5) 30 Automated payment rejected by non striker (4)

31 Alternative treatment of those to pay for alternative treatment (10)

DOWN

1 Roman orator led coup attacking the opposition (4)

2 Capital stimulant taken before affair (5-4) 3 Missing Germany? Transfer to German city (7)

4 Settlement requires guts to complete with happy ending (6)

5 Sinew undergoes a melting process (8) 7 Bribe taken by a Balearic resort (5)

8 Cop it over Central American police operation to make molten metal work (3-7) 9 Go hungry _ gaze at initially vanishing filling (6)

14 Back sections of hospital visited at a later time (10)

17 Authority on religious observance claims, archaically, to have written out all the items for you (9)

18 Stop me as I get mired in bog (4-4)

20 Are concealing preserve that’s cryptic (6) 22 Equal cut made in vegetable (7) 23 Creed considered pleasant in Aberdeen (6) 25 Girl who is confused daily (5)

27 Main dynamic ingredient of high-speed racing (4)