CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

4 Trap cuts the spaniel’s tail off (7)

8 & 15Dn Go into a professional examination, but submit an objection (5,1,7)

9 Using an extinguisher and quenching one’s thirst (7)

10 This provides transport for the burial-place (6)

11 Bigger fiddles cultivated by nurserymen! (6)

12 Opposite to what talkative people do? (8)

18 Could he be described as self-willed? (8)

20 Open the subject of a piece of jewellery, we hear (6)

21 Flexible plan gets involved with it (6)

22 One whose livelihood depends on commission? (7)

23 Comes to port where sailors sleep (6)

24 He doesn’t believe this tea is blended! (7)

DOWN

1 Locked spine produces a relapse (3-4)

2 Peering at article wrapped around with cord (7)

3 Go over broken rut (6)

5 Conferences at which a friend makes a declaration (8)

6 May contain blue fluid, but it has changed to pink (6)

7 Kindly angel moving around one (6)

13 Showing no mercy in describing incomplete Old Testament (8)

14 Hardships affect artists (7)

15 See 8 Across

16 Public relations officer gets suitable gain (6)

17 Man in charge inside shows spite (6)

19 This is used for guiding the ploughman (6)