CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Rapidly beating friend at gin, tip being given for it (11)

7. There’s room to see the back end of a bore (7)

9. Wise man going head-to-tail for such a long time (4)

11. State one had nothing to distribute (5)

12. The forenoon taken up in being entertained (6)

14. Fish and abalone may be served à la mode (11)

18. The story newspaperman files goes with a bang (6)

20. He follows a bird to the church barn (5)

22. Stratford’s position relative to Avon (4)

23. Road ran around a country in the Pyrenees (7)

24. Every two weeks, try flight on reassembly (11)

DOWN

2. State that Capone stood for (7)

3. The unladen weight shows up in the ratings (4)

4. Spiced, sweetened drink for example in sun-up (5)

5. Free shares are to be found in a pilgrim’s pouch (5)

6. The remark to the audience may be said to change end of scene (5)

8. The monks may be fellow-members of a union (8)

10. I am not living with my wife, as is made known (8)

13. Being in favour of no end of class (3)

15. Not being metaphorical, it is wrong to have printed it (7)

16. Some pop musicians who reach maturity without women (5)

17. How to broadcast it in early arrangement (5)

19. Negative, the outcome of such a finish? (5)

21. A garment from Paris (topless version) (4) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Slipper 5. Plank 8. Reputed 9. Round 10. Better off

12. Eta 13. Trawl 17. Aim 19. Bamboozle 21. Dhobi

22. Natural 24. Teeth 25. Classed

Down: 1. Strobe 2. Impetus 3. Pet 4. Radio 5. Portfolio

6. Amuse 7. Kidnap 11. Establish 14. Lizards 15. Bandit

16. Felled 18. Moose 20. Manic 23. Tea