CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

8. Chop a zag making cold Spanish soup (8)

9. Bird with an over-large victim (6)

10. Postprandial, as some speakers are (5-6)

11. Took a meal in a tea-room (3)

13. Own one will allow one to enter (5)

15. Respectful compliance with the Engineers among the backs (9)

17. Sort of force to greet ten, comical though it may be (15)

19. A conduit’s let out to a caretaker (9)

21. Broke the heating apparatus (5)

23. Settle for work being on time (3)

24. Confidence is guaranteed on a Loch (11)

27. Greek Papa fuddled by Italian brandy (6)

28. Even lads might be enthralled (8) DOWN 1. Flower, just one of Wordsworth’s host (8)

2. Doesn’t start to backslide from part of the church (4) 3. Clouds of pounds may have been lost in old Italian money (5) 4. Contrary actions enumerator takes the size of (15)

5. It’s a coin a head (9)

6. Anthropoid showing up in the pampas (3)

7. Sort of cross languages (6)

12. Refuse to accept the right to throw one out (6) 14. Encourage enlightenment, by the sound of it (6) 16. Swaps a fellow for a skilled worker (9)

18. Being besieged, purchased shares (8)

20. One of two on the cricket field maybe (6)

22. Untidy manuscript? Yes, possibly (5)

25. Popham? (4)

26. Sort of glass agent (3)