CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. One given the sack by

his office? (4,10) 9. Southern writer the

French put in irons (7) 10. In the morning encountered royal measuring instrument (7) 11. Do as you are told with

award unknown (4) 12. They’re tied at speed (5) 13. They were wise but a bit

unimaginative (4) 16. Implicates parents by

mistake (7) 17. Prank taken in by investigators – it’s a plant (7) 18. Get a better deal? (5,2) 21. Treatment with which they can cover up blame (7) 23. Mum has no hesitation

in swatting it perhaps (4) 24. Dance with male during

refrain (5) 25. Remain in Scotland (4) 28. Serious points at first

impress deeply (7) 29. Trained to make a hit (4,3) 30. Where the army trains to pay Russian bill in error (9,5)

DOWN

1. Explode, having seen some

petrol mishandled (4,4,6) 2. Time in break usefully

employed by chemists (7) 3. Stick together with sponge,

perhaps (4) 4. A planet without river or

lake – hellish frontier (7) 5. Utterly out of order (7) 6. Light satire adds nothing

on (4) 7. Where you’d probably find

the Lizard of Oz? (7) 8. Reason dairyman ordered

common salt (8,6) 14. Titus went off to sea (5) 15. Volunteers with knowledge

chosen (5) 19. Island in the Caribbean, as opposed to one in the Pacific? Not quite! (7) 20. Basil maybe dropped in as

a matter of good taste (3,4) 21. The devil of a rage gripping

the leader (7) 22. Woodcutter who had a couple of scores to settle! (3,4) 26. Western aid arranged for

dry area (4) 27. Quite a feat to get

company promoted (4)