CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

7 Supported by arms or threatened by them? (4,2) 8 Pot red mistakenly – it’s too much! (2,4) 10 It sinks beneath the waves (7) 11 Pale, and pass out (5) 12 Old Irish seer is reformed (4) 13 Bet a wit has with the Queen (5) 17 A bun before this social occasion would be plenty (5) 18 He provides some hot toddy (4) 22 Fastened, with some spirit (5) 23 Lead on? (7) 24 Many take the bird to be cowardly (6) 25 Reform needed by shopkeepers (6)

DOWN

1 Rattle caused by a loose ratchet (7) 2 Budding salesman? (7) 3 Still, it’s quite unusual (5) 4 No longer bound to deliver (3,4) 5 It left Britain the centre of sensation (5) 6 Skewers end up on board (5) 9 Ring of the cheapest sort? (5,4) 14 Felt that an employee came first (7) 15 The art of eating out? (7) 16 Possibly sold one some Chinese food (7) 19 Pick for courage (5) 20 A bit of a fight (5) 21 The sailor turned up first to take a dip (5)