CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Secondary theme I take from leader of undersea craft (7) 5 Supplementary earnings for being in operation involved in public transport (7) 9 Poetic metre that’s the core formation (7) 10 Getting behind with preparations for winter? (7) 11 A learner leaves Wallabies for European nationals (9) 12 Bases of fire are right out at entrances (5) 13 Internally firmed up with dry eau-de-nil (5) 15 Place of refreshment offers a grade-ten blend (3,6) 16 Extra people arrived on head of beach at Lancashire resort (9) 18 Animal reluctant to follow bend (5) 21 Two people together seen at hostel that’s basic hut (5) 22 Apercu cumbersome when focussed on vegetables (9) 24 Tales of garland offered by sirens (7) 26 Cheese that has a less than rich opening, then over the top (7) 27 Prospect really entertained is phantom (7) 28 Pleased to get going when passed (7)

DOWN

1 Began voyage at fixed price, we hear (3,4) 2 Arrives breezily to say “never mind” to vice (5,2) 3 Was irrepressible harlot at the heart of his Merry Widow? (5) 4 Article of karaoke equipment, perhaps, used in internal political organisation (3,5,7) 5 Normal distribution pushed carb level askew (4-6,5) 6 Wooden peg that’s nearly disappeared making a come-back (3) 7 Being canonised is, at end, transforming (7) 8 Gesture made by boy who registers as unemployed (5,2) 12 For example, return answer: “cherry trees” (5) 14 Get down to York first, dear (5) 16 Crowd lies wildly about phones (7) 17 He’s finished working on island (7) 19 Mythological murderer gave nothing to others’ opponents (7) 20 Shun bad reunion with spouse (7) 23 Place of pilgrimage reached with construction kit? No, no! (5) 25 Length of time leaders spend on outcome of division (3)