SUPER CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Woolly dog one has a weakness for? (4,4) 5 Didn’t notice it was a female boss (6) 10 There’s a short answer to: “What tells me I have it?” (10,5) 11 Most of the men have a French accent and are impressive (7)

12 Jokes about being given free seed to scatter around (7)

13 A ribbon to put round the river boat (8)

15 A second shock (5) 18 In retrogressing to childhood, you would find them frightening (5) 20 Make smaller, as opposed to thick (8) 23 Succeed in getting through the border, you say, on return (7)

25 Bird box there’s a fight to get on to (7) 26 Would you think it fit to do so? (8,3,4)

27 Tries, yes, to tie the animal back inside (6) 28 Gives, as you do, indications (8)

DOWN

1 Screened the girl in the man’s embrace (6) 2 Father, at the time, returned by ship (9) 3 Give one plenty, as it is cooked, to eat, for a change (7)

4 The greenwood? (5) 6 Talls one where civil servants get their information (7) 7 Pronounce fit (5) 8 Didn’t like to try to get into the act (8)

9 In the main, squashes the darn fruit (8)

14 And certainly not greatly reduced (4,4) 16 With a “Very interesting,” is sucking up (9)

17 The full fifty enter to take part in the event (8) 19 Formal with the chief, when in the enclosure (7) 21 They enable one to have a complete change of character (7) 23 Foreigners at the greengrocer’s (6)

24 The Cockney fellers are water carriers (5) 25 Prepared, also, we’re told, for the fray (3-2)