DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Impair sheep and rat’s growth on dunes (6,5) 9 Secret police try to collect foreign tapes (7) 10 What TV presenter reads reporting traffic jam? (7) 11 Conflict’s bitter but it’s over (3) 12 They’re inclined to highlight list CIA compiled (7) 13 Lack the quality which may make you conspicuous? (7) 14 Drive from here and there occasionally (3) 15 Amazing goal – time to be smug (5) 17 Some ceaselessly stand for painter (5) 18 Modify plug fitting (5) 20 It usually appears in spring, not end of autumn (5) 22 Snake in bottomless vessel (3) 24 Like 12, old and barren, say (7) 25 GP had perished in flood (7) 26 Regret grouse now and then (3) 27 Sweet 26 heard wounding remark (7) 28 Calm and quiet if I interrupt a county council (7) 29 Prodigal Spanish target the reduced gap (11)

DOWN

1 Paramour’s legs treated when brought in for dodgy joints (7,8) 2 I dropped into exotic garden for studying (7) 3 Openly admits a car’s got a hole in it (5) 4 He provides security for arrogant comic union hired (9) 5 Performer adjusted rate – it’s different indoors (7) 6 Small bee infects skin badly – apply for this? (8,7) 7 It goes wrong for someone with selfish interests (6) 8 Abolish bell-ringing after Bible studies (6) 16 Euros invested in Dorset by criminal in fishery (6,3) 18 On ship abroad Rex gets demoted (6) 19 Queen sat awkwardly outside touching different ruler (1-6) 21 Amateur lacks coaching – sadly they may be in the soup (7) 23 Quote a Dutch and Italian leader (6) 25 On the ground Germany secured power and penetration (5)