CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. To make wider just ring “8” reportedly (6)

4. Some baste meat to stop the flow of blood (4)

8. What the pipe worker does makes it vertical (6)

9. No dirt in the Garden City bureau (6)

11. Photo ham? Golly! A study when not pleasing on the eye (13)

14. Solicit tactician to return to the loft (5)

16. To grip, a bird has a beak let alone a claw (5)

18. Could science try with bit to do with robotic technician (13)

20. See 23 Down

22. See 12 Down

24. Clothes dusty? May need to go back into the machine for some (4)

25. Yours truly reflexively (6)

Down

2. Daughters-in-law never rewinds to find something funny to do (5,2)

3. See 20

5 & 21dn. Remnant of stage hand (but not ash) (3,3)

6. Go with the gent for fruit (5)

7. A joint for the bird (3)

8. Poem about IRA cops was unimaginative (7)

10. When cricket players lack energy some will relax ... (7)

12dn & 22ac. ... when the pitch is not correct (3,2,4)

13. Agent has the last two letters about the Asian river (7)

15. A vehicle for a left-handed Scot? (3)

17. Relaxing time for Elsie around the Ur (7)

19. Centre of boards not wanted in a china shop! (5)

20 & 3dn. There are no horses with toothbrushes in the spa bath (3,3)

21. See 5

23dn & 20ac. Bisected insects found on the rugby field (3,6)

Yesterday Across: 2. Swank, 5. Mash, 7. Aqua, 8. Gondolas, 9. Postpone, 11. Pier, 12. Sandwich board, 17. Knapsack, 19. Cash book, 21. Jail, 22. Berg, 23. Nawab. Down: 1. Sequoia, 2 & 6dn. Sea snake, 3. Aggro, 4. Kenneth, 5. Moo, 10. Tides, 11. Pious, 13. Inkhorn, 14. Receipt, 16. Osage, 18. Askew, 20. Hug, 21dn & 15ac. Job lots.