CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Set off to find a girl to correspond with (2,8)

6 Affected English runner took first place (4)

10 May mean to declare a long time ago (7)

11 Are getting homework done before having to get ready (7)

12 Gap in poet’s work could become a complete standstill (8)

13 Cross about going at one pace (5)

15 For one to start out in the middle is key (6)

17 To get away, with little hesitation, can be quite an adventure (8)

19 Heading off cravings to spend all one’s wages (8)

21 Things were quite frenetic for chief, etc, dropping off some iron (6)

24 Get round one sector of a crucial layer (5)

25 Spread the word when on the way with a sergeant-major, in short (8)

28 I left leading lady in charge. It happens to be unlawful (7)

29 Organise an upgrade, with little hesitation, for one’s sponsor (7)

30 Leaders have to dig under second tier to get some fine particles (4)

31 At short notice, sets out to have various experiences (10)

DOWN

1 Have to go a long way to hit the target (4)

2 Create some threat, by the end, at some stage (7)

3 Understand how to get first growth to bear fruit (5)

4 Have to pace out protection for the foot at the tip (6)

5 Hands over reporters to get old coffee (8)

7 Is at a detailed 6 across before entering a desert (7)

8 Present, by the end, at new church. It’s one’s first choice (10)

9 Think hard about how to intervene over time (8)

14 To turn up to provide care may just occur to me (4,2,4)

16 Even CID, at the end, has to come up with corroboration (8)

18 Was a bit upset, so organised some forces for change (8)

20 Digs up some plants with the French (7)

22 Tries, with little time, to divert a cyclone (7)

23 Bet on the result of a game with a pound (6)

26 Odds on alternative model on display (5)

27 Star managed to follow some cultural pursuits (4)