LATERAL THINKING: CRYPTIC

Use the cryptic clues to solve this crossword with a twist.

ACROSS

1. Presume serum is modified? (7) 4. Desperate father takes humorous action (7)

7. Heard this will shortly be Scotland’s emblem (7) 8. Sheepish climber chases love (5) 10. Race timer to end guard duty (9) 12. Burst forth to cover up the interior (5) 13. Mischievous child wandered but got better (8)

15. Coldest cities can be redesigned (6)

17. Hissed about crockery (6) 19. Bitter stout for Alec? (8) 21. Initially cooked hot in potato snacks (5)

22. Dash it! (9)

25. Surpass old-fashioned party (5) 26. Renovate remainder of mineral rock (7)

27. Three score and ten, even in pigpen (7) 28. Distributes peanut butter and jam (7)

DOWN

1. The customer must be kept so if ad is set out (9)

2. Big beast with horn? I shook! (5) 3. Always first to turn out (5)

4. Fly swallows ash? How brash! (6) 5. Requested adder lessons for teenage years (11)

6. Ape left cheapest box (5) 9. Case-harden in your audition (5) 11. Last prize will create a stir (6,5) 14. Doug had nothing to lose when he excavated (3)

16. Bland but offensive (9)

18. Key used when swapping cases (5) 20. Bottom half? Why, that’s saucy (6)

21. Small cooperatives to house chickens (5) 23. Deposits car in gardens (5)

24. Smell and sound like a roamer? (5)