CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Sky feature, series inspiring a popular book (7)

5 Husband Bill

feeds pigs and dogs (7)

9 Duke describes worker as a

Walter Mitty character (9) 10 Civilian militia, unfit for

training, it's initially … (5)

11 … helping what current soldiers

are doing? (7)

12 I hurried around in pursuit of

small cocktail (7)

13 In tears, lady badly corrupted (3,6)

16 Smallest born escapes from

animal by lake (5)

17 Walls of emerald upset my

colour scheme (5)

18 Former college welcomes politician, old American, in grand manner (9)

21 Craft in stone Madonna holding

child (7)

22 Burden on farmers originally

facing bad weather (7) 25 Assess fruit across Ukraine's

capital (5)

26 Different hybrid of white

rose (9)

27 A little surprised at Edith being

given tranquillisers (7) 28 Claiming soldiers last played

sad musical pieces (7)

DOWN

1 No, not something a

showjumper wants? (7) 2 Middle son keeps away from

wrongdoer (5)

3 Reportedly canal boat pilot is

making spicy snack (5)

4 One complaining of coach ultimately punching footballer (7)

5 Is fairly discontented after

school test answer (7) 6 Marian periodically raised fuss about sick creature (9)

7 Bad international spies, extremely lawless government agents, say (9) 8 Mistake over blocking comedy sketch displaying root vegetable (7)

14 Daughter supports sad hunch about small dog (9)

15 File on hospital department is

rigorous (9)

17 Mother declines sum

awarded by court (7)

18 Pale yew, so good now and again as boarding material (7)

19 US police officer alarms suspect

outside hotel (7)

20 Keen, say, to vary bets (7) 23 Meeting in favour of you finally having minutes (5)

24 Strange story in article (5)