CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Go-it-alone Scotsman: how wise he is! (7)

5. Doing damage, Hun began with as much as he could carry (7)

9. Corralled and raised the number to an even figure (7,2)

10. Chap who will leave the tropical fruit (5)

11. Be in the drink and discover the white poplar (5)

12. The most minor of minor roads however (9)

13. The outset, where it starts to be painful! (9)

16. Musical form flung pure alternate characters (5)

17. Upright type of nose with a high bridge (5)

18. ‘X’ senses alteration in strained state (9)

20. ‘How __ upon the mountains are the feet’(Is) (9)

23. Sort of stitch - with wire? (5)

25. Women’s movement in first-class setting says one wasn’t there (5)

26. Not a considered reaction from this gun! (9)

27. Took on staff recognisable by the ring? (7)

28. He has a spread, but managed to be dear to the French (7)

DOWN

1. Civil he may be, the domestic! (7)

2. Look! Employ an out-and-out rotter! (5)

3. Half-way through summer it’s stupid to turn up and add salt (3-6)

4. Boy, on turning up with knots and lumps (5)

5. Field in Kent for a dance al fresco? (3-6)

6. Turn hourglass over and send the money (5)

7. Elaborate ornament makes enthusiast hang loose (9)

8. Appear to understand a quick visual appraisal (4-3)

14. Aries putting out call on bleeper is going wild (9)

15. Uncontrollable, the way one plays a card? (3,2,4)

16. M Homme? (9)

17. Wall of chest will send wife to prison (7)

19. Edmund’s sound short coat (7)

21. Article that’s skinny begins growing (5)

22. After a while alter it to this (5)

24. One lot of loaves caught in the bun place (5)