CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Anne get into pool, turning up with an old gold coin? (8)

9 Is about to take on 25 down in response (6)

10 He/she 11 across, so is not in form (6)

11 As unwary characters are forced out, so bolts off (4,4)

12 Is not in favour of some transatlantic events (4)

13 On patrol, leads one to some puritanical soldiers (10)

15 When down below, are set apart (7)

17 Makes a connection with an old Poet Laureate (7)

20 Carries something back a long way, although it’s unnatural (3-7)

22 Eat one’s heart out, but can still clean up, at the end (4)

24 Cultivated land with a low cart returning to an agricultural centre (8)

26 Head off some broad streets to various grounds (6)

27 It’s not much to pay for chickenfeed (6) 28 It could be a step too far, but can win easily (4,4)

DOWN

1 To impose a ban on a luxury car, at the end, could be unproductive (6)

2 Calling for salvation, when in occupation (8)

3 Improved 23 down, on time, making progress (10)

4 One run round the States can be quite a burden (7)

5 In fact, have to repair one type of club (4)

6 Put on a show of equal value at short notice, with some energy (6)

7 Small steamer may go off, set far apart (8)

14 Risk-takers who are in the lead, drive away on the final circuits (4-6)

16 Follow some safe passages, in the main (3,5)

18 Is in control of a dependent territory (8)

19 Closely follows an old pop group (7)

21 Celebrity took in a period of extreme drought (6)

23 First class European pies broken into bits (6)

25 Performs, at some stage, in fact, sooner or later (4)