CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 Some bees and an ermine eating sugar are

cosily heated (2,4,2,5)

10 Son prices unsettled plots (9)

11 Sweet Italian life, perhaps, getting a cent on

benefits (5)

12 Animal at bay one placed at wings in

limelight (2,5)

13 Marine creature to close up when one's

appearing (3,4)

14 Tip every other bean into cattle enclosure

(3,3)

16 Where to wait for execution, having started

off again from airport (5,3)

18 Cuspidor found in Scottish municipality on

sand bar (8)

20 Reckoned Oscar languished with longing

(6)

23 Workwear used on average (7)

24 Can past be re-written by sailors' hauling

device? (7)

26 Rub out using rubber as easy part (5)

27 Raise stakes on chopper with ancient

Cretan symbol (6,3)

28 Particular trees to initially irrigate are top

quality (3,5,5)

Down

2 Human resources leave psychiatrists in

socially deprived areas (5)

3 Pacify with familiarity using software? (7)

4 Virgin received first lady and sweetheart of

one who was dead at Christmas (6)

5 Met sissy trading in international units (2,6)

6 Experienced sailor lad lost control (3,4)

7 Oils drone, being prepared to continue

despite difficulties (7,2)

8 One who always keeps calm is not hot in

shop (1,4,8)

9 Have too much to do when freshly renewed

bonus cover included date (2,6,5)

15 Cover up unpleasant facts in laundry

phase? (9)

17 They say duck on island is underground

accelerator (8)

19 Urban mugger, for example, using this in

mug perhaps (3,4)

21 It distinguishes taste on tongue when father takes aspirin, say, with sip of acid (7)

22 Commanding officer of new religious

movement is mysterious (6)

25 Scottish peer saves me from greenhouse gas (5)