CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Gear hub badly needs a tight squeeze (4,3) 5 Nick the plans for domestic office (7) 9 Reaching out without energy results in pique (7)

10 Lasts out at the finish, peculiarly sure (7) 11 Partly use force in invitation to petition (3,2,4)

12 Bump into boat on canal (5)

13 Hut suitable for initiation of student journalist (5)

15 When the French disrobe, she washes clothes (9)

16 Terms and conditions mess with trees (9) 18 Fast identification of street singing (5) 21 Gutters – make sure you get the right ones (5)

22 Ridiculous of mum to break in when using speech that’s individual (9)

24 Bend down and gesture at disturbance of water (3,4) 26 Fashion supporter using harmony (7) 27 The knife is extremely ready following onrush (7)

28 Direction in which senator is running (7)

DOWN

1 Makes it still around Earls Court initially with soothing applications (7)

2 Flies as a dart to the stars (2,5) 3 Damages where an extra lead would have produced delights (5)

4 Poste restante: resting post-natally at nonspecialist hospital (7,8)

5 Only disrobe to a certain extent with chill (4,4,5,2)

6 The very man to turn the hay (3) 7 Strenuous work in boat, we hear, to get fish food (4,3)

8 Backward son she has runs eateries (7) 12 Wartime hero who gets worse when shielding daughter (5)

14 Kiss and tell at first in Scottish lockers (5) 16 Flashing lights on street clothes (7) 17 West African included in 23 on fighting ship (3,1,3)

19 Give girl a stroke on the knee (7) 20 Disparage exercise to unlock code (7) 23 Guy has alternative to grand house (5) 25 Animal with unopened open mouth (3)