{ THE CROSSWORDS }

Across

1 Light sleep? (6)

4 Go for a walk but with a meal out (8)

9 Sudden flood of light material (6)

10 Type of porcelain food container (8)

12 Quality surprisingly found among the languid (4) 13 Going with some hesitation to tender (5) 14 French country is profitable (4)

17 Go into battle and win some ground (4,3,5) 20 Useless demonstration of hunger marchers? (5,7) 23 Still on level terms (4)

24 Like fifty doubled up in merriment? (5) 25 Obstinate but practical person it’s said (4)

28 It means suspect can go free - absolutely free (2,6) 29 Is she mostly preferred for being fair? (6)

30 It’s not for nothing you pass through it (4,4) 31 Confine one after another we hear (6)

Down

1 Lets it break to a point that could be lethal (8) 2 Sets aside Tom’s battle scars? (8)

3 One may win it by a head (4)

5 Attractive perch on top of the world (8,4) 6 The Bear River in America? (4)

7 Name father turns up for an ancestor (6)

8 Join forces? (6)

11 No prime consideration (12)

15 News articles from the Times (5)

16 Sort of show to knock you out (5)

18 Publicly expose a lightweight understudy (8) 19 A brief way to stimulate fish (8)

21 Edible seed for vegetable and fruit (6) 22 Eyebrow-raising writer (6)

26 Shocking report of Pole in kill (4)

27 He’s buried in an avalanche (4)

Across

1 Period of ten years (6) 4 Perpendicular (8)

9 Capital of Poland (6) 10 Revert to earlier topic (4,4) 12 Promontory (4)

13 Large tactical army unit (5) 14 Wrecked state (4)

17 A resource in reserve (6,6) 20 Gesture of congratulation (3,2,3,4)

23 Sudden fancy (4)

24 A Thespian (5)

25 Number of fish netted (4) 28 Type of Indian cooking (8) 29 Disconcerted (3,3) 30 Lacking protection (8) 31 Gentle (6)

Down

1 Dejected (8)

2 Tortoise’s upper shell (8) 3 Attract (4)

5 Intense annoyance (12) 6 To capture (4)

7 Group hired to applaud (6)

8 Taste (6)

11 Unstable institution (5,2,5)

15 Recant (5)

16 Theatrical backer (5) 18 Variety of pasta (8) 19 Supporting framework (8)

21 Transfer (6) 22 Remarkable (6) 26 Official list (4)

27 Silent (4)