CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Holiday course for studying adders? (6,6)

8. Improve English Channel – it’s nearly all polluted (7) 9. Mother hides a blemish using this perhaps (7) 11. Appeal to patient working with first of medics (10) 12. Drip which is making puddles primarily (4)

14. Both parents follow vehicle to get Herb (8)

16. Law covering new big gun (6)

17. Harry the hack (3) 19. Brussels chief recruits a French guard for sultan (6)

21. After alterations, they open for novice (8)

24. They may be used to attack Arab writing (4) 25. Exuberant female beat worker defending son (10) 27. Books and uniform in equipment at unknown farm abroad (7)

28. Fashion model accepting a royal title (7)

29. Online data massaged by telecoms firm shows what we owe (8,4)

Down

1. One designs plot and border in small church by river (7)

2. RC receptacle displays ornaments, about 100 (10) 3. Foreign article next to notice influenced vote (8) 4. Call child to embrace worried mum (6)

5. One leaves to raise anchor (4)

6. New idea inn rejected getting warm reception (7)

7. Warring archdukes met to create currency unit once (8,4)

10. A very quiet finish to my enthralling City operation (12)

13. Waterproofing material that restricts jockeys or golfers? (4,6)

15. Writer quits most important isle (3)

18. Room in Colditz lacking an early sign of life (4,4)

20. Bloke lifted timeless bone somewhere in Africa (7) 22. Harry ate dory a long time ago (4,3)

23. Prominently display description of 24 (6) 26. South American Indian people set up one (4)