Crossword

ACROSS

1 Large vehicle parking by Irish lake (6)

5 If in no end of doubt before close of play, declare! (6)

10 Therefore, top must be reliable (5)

11 One who keeps records about substance almost like gold dust (9)

12 Cutting remarks, primarily in bar (7)

13 Trendy little drink I had in flat (7)

14 Errand boy committing serious crime in minister’s house (9)

17 Be uncomfortably hot right in front of kiln (5)

18 Opening, working with group (5)

19 Contest fewer in number, being without equal (9)

21 Rider at races, delayed (7) 23 Gossip present, reportedly with chance to speak (7)

25 Duck swimming over shell (9)

26 Type of energy supply also run (5)

27 Crossing river, reached cave (6) 28 Chicken in yard man decapitated (6)

DOWN

2 Phone up about last of gladioli in bloom (5)

3 Painter’s work that’s rarely seen? (9) 4 World Cup hero injured netting second (5) 5 Nigel, clumsy chap, careless (9)

6 Jobs – first in there enquires (5)

7 Female and I restore hearth (9) 8 Not awake when cover pulled up (6)

9 Put down good name (6) 15 Ice, mostly, round Irish lake (9)

16 Creature in a stream grabbing frantic duck (9) 17 Tries to divide existing practice (9)

18 Slow on the uptake, but so excited by note, finally (6) 20 Crime writer tells about that woman topping husband (6) 22 Awkward writer reflected in it (5) 23 Stout, a novelist (5) 24 Volley from Slav drifting over (5)