CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 One politician gets the Spanish to drive forward (5) 4 Robber gang surrounding oil installation (7)

8 Don’t die – take out another policy! (7)

9 More than one weapon causes frustration (5)

10 Take a deep breath in making a speech (4) 11 Catastrophe is present in various trades (8)

13 Stretch over nine inches! (4) 14 River barrier is almost unearthly (4)

16 I trade so badly, receiver appears (5,3)

17 He killed one in the vessel (4)

20 Deserves to get out of a snare! (5)

21 Large dish needed for the horse (7)

22 Cutting tool in which you’ll find belt was put back (4,3) 23 Almost cover up the debris (5)

DOWN

1 One of those strange words of action the French have! (9,4) 2 Nibbles at quantities of grain (5)

3 It’s pointless, sweetheart (4) 4 Carriage for Irving? (6)

5 A friend is confused about the right rays (8)

6 He flies from Batavia to Russia (7)

7 She tries to soothe ill-feeling in the area (8,5)

12 Opposes a variety of baby carriers (8)

13 Gloomy club used for evening out (7)

15 The main farm animal is the walrus! (3,3)

18 To prophesy is a boring thing, by the sound of it (5) 19 Lightly strikes the water regulators (4)