The Brain Teaser No. 8,756

ACROSS

1. Girl joining the mayhem (9)

6. Sends leading seamen aboard vessels (5)

9. Was furious and smoked like a chimney (5)

10. Standard sin of niggardliness (9)

11. Give a wide berth to cattle Clare stampeded (5,5)

12. Against article about old-fashioned sex appeal (4)

14. British Rail have a new title that's snappy (7)

15. Nonsense keeping viewer at bay (7)

17. Ship of less tonnage (7)

19. The rulers posed before the backyard (7)

20. Curious fate of the free trade organisation Britain left (4)

22. Is no calmer after disturbance by workers (10)

25. Questions the effect of wrapping one in quantities of paper (9)

26. Cry “Hail” (5)

27. Put right at noon (5)

28. Make Russ prate about being a great celebrity (9)

DOWN

1. Faces seen around in public places (5)

2. One by one listing trade unionists at sea (9)

3. Play down being governed by a sovereign power (10)

4. Urge I get when I'm on the beat (7)

5. Tell about island Lawrence comes from (7)

6. Dad gets in French bread (4)

7. Contempt for girl leaving dance-hall with heartless Ron (5)

8. They illuminate the stars (9)

13. Socialist footballer? (4,6)

14. The dancer Ella's back in Brian's awkward embrace

(9)

16. Wonder if meant to be worried about getting out of the labyrinth (9)

18. Recruits Miss Stark to make a comeback in “Rise Anew” (7)

19. Puts on the market when the battery's said to be finished (5,2)

21. Quote about Edwardian woman's headwear (5)

23. Is about to get Jack an instrument (5)

24. Clement's drink (4)

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE No. 8755:

ACROSS: 1 Clothe; 4 Shadowed; 10 Support; 11 Nostrum; 12 Maid; 13 Stamped out; 16 Rating; 17 Village; 20 Outward; 21 Undone; 24 Lay brother; 25 Otto; 27 Bourbon; 29 Cleared; 30 Sundered; 31 Person.

DOWN: 1 Cashmere; 2 On point duty; 3 Hook; 5 Handmaid; 6 Dispelling; 7 War; 8 Demote; 9 State; 14 On good terms; 15 Answerable; 18 Pretence; 19 Beholden; 22 Globes; 23 Perch; 26 Here; 28 Urn.