DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Ram this red ridiculously pompous type (7,5) 8 He wears away a nail with ruler (7) 9 Prudent coppers nearly all accept it (7) 11 Men back a more amusing machine to smooth the way (10) 12 Both sides in America go about dealing with region (4) 14 Cold current in a grave, one of lots here (8) 16 Impulsive sort ignoring VIP breakfast (6) 17 It’s said to scare British ducks (3) 19 Steer car in city (6) 21 Harsh exercises restrict one, then four (8) 24 Product of some unusually dramatic soaps primarily (4) 25 Party-pooper perfect for putting out flames (3,7) 27 Distance a grey galloped over short day? (7) 28 Foreign money worries beginning to disappear (7) 29 Little marten frustrated cruel handling (3-9)

DOWN

1 Retainer who’s civil in Whitehall? (7) 2 Attach special importance to less than 20 (10) 3 Crashing film bore getting leg in front (8) 4 River bird? The one in Blackpool is big (6) 5 Young Henry left auditorium (4) 6 What distillers used to give answers to accusations (7) 7 I invested in crazy U.S. car policy on a whim (12) 10 Player in recitals managed to keep dry (12) 13 Ms Dench quietly leaves to occupy the bench (10) 15 1940s jazz hit (3) 18 Eruption diverts tour bus, first of three (8) 20 Fine leader abused for supporting Union government (7) 22 He leaves odd thin bloke to find feature of Rorschach test (7) 23 Retreat that’s restricted by precedent (6) 26 Spar supplying food for wild animals in wood (4)