CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

16 314

Across

1. Listeners in here trained to repeat lines (8) 5. Autocrat locks leader of strike in warehouse (6) 9. He works with people creating security device (8) 10. Carpet worker catches rodent (6) 12. Examine small tin (4) 13. Crispy biscuit’s identifying mark: viola in reverse (6,4) 15. Furtive superior tuts fussily, having brought one in (13) 19. Badly-managed inn apologised for illness (4,9) 23. Bird would, I hear, creep jerkily around rear of oak (10) 25. Ski-lift to be arranged beside run (1-3) 28. Thin cloth mostly protects English breakfast (6) 29. Glow from Romeo I clutched in a waltz perhaps (8) 30. Make tidy line at end, ignoring frills (6) 31. Vegetable’s better cooked with ducks (8)

Down

1. Climber perhaps holds record for sleep (6) 2. African animal’s hunger in middle of Sahara (5) 3. Pain in stomach exacerbated (4) 4. Rush around place to spend lots (7) 6. Dedicated poem, say, in cathedral city (5) 7. Ordinary lad close to composing church music (9) 8. In Brest, very quietly, a ship makes illegal entry (8) 11. Join together and think about leaving hotel (4) 14. Stole package (4) 15. Note a poet with artist in EastEnders, for instance (4,5) 16. Nearly kick step (3) 17. Group of musicians regularly turn it on (4) 18. Woodman managed to rescue lost granny perhaps (3,5) 20. Long drainage channel’s first to be removed (4) 21. Direct work in theatre (7) 22. Encourage conservationists to be critical (6) 24. Beat peas, say (5) 26. Difficult job fitting in a new instrument (5) 27. Deep in thought, swallowing beer probably (4)