TUESDAY’S SOLUTION (No 8,956) — ACROSS:

1 Refusal. 5 Sick. 7 Arc. 8 Punctual. 9 Spurn. 10 Tool. 13 Mule. 14 Sate. 18 On at. 19 Erect. 21 Mutilate. 22 Ava. 23 Pete. 24 Scrumpy. DOWN: 1 Reassess. 2 Face up to. 3 Supine. 4 Length. 5 Sitcom.

6 Crag. 11 Lukewarm. 12 Tertiary. 15 Engine. 16 Straws. 17 Veneer. 20 Lute.