CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Some ropy stuff that’s found along the coast (6) 5 Things hanging down having power to exterminate insects (8) 9 Legal procedure to pursue company member — it comes to the crunch? (10) 10 Good old-style politician, smooth-tongued (4) 11 Oblique dishing of dirt — nice! (8) 12 Come down by river in the country (6) 13 Has a sleep, rolling over for a length of time (4) 15 Notice worker with medieval weapon (8) 18 Attractive nibble with balti I’ve prepared (4,4) 19 The ultimate plastic bottles (4) 21 An eight-day celebration — one goes from do to do (6) 23 Seaside accommodation chore getting wife to run around (8) 25 Animals from those parts to the west (4) 26 Bring him around in the morning in the city (10) 27 Take food, including meat given special heat treatment (8) 28 Wily characters represented in statue (6)

DOWN 2 Deity with short name, an old character (5) 3 IT company shortly to introduce a nice new gadget (9) 4 Part of formal attire not in good condition (6) 5 How attender with pint is out to have a wild celebration (5,3,4,3) 6 Square cut up in game (8) 7 A new girl, as some would say, is a darling (5) 8 What could be construed into gnarliest shapes (9) 14 Head gives general rule to those listening (9) 16 Inner circle coming down on terror, lacking resistance in beastly contest (9) 17 Like some wild animals Matabele treated (8) 20 American show girl embracing any number in a place for sailors (6) 22 Tea service set up after start of afternoon (5) 24 Making a horticultural insertion is hard work (5)