1-across – Limp little books found in dingy place : HOBBLE

5-across – Contrite writer, one seen in front of canvas dwelling : PENITENT

9-across – Bottle or tin kept in check : DECANTER

10-across – Turned to me to get into religious eduction, though far away : REMOTE

11-across – This for a honeymoon, but the record was faulty : THREESACROWD

13-across – Cooker turns iron hot and cold : CHEF

14-across – Mere talk describes this turn in skiing : TELEMARK

17-across – A good man, a lieutenant, holding combat to be courageous : STALWART

18-across – Thus half one’s home is in this part of London : SOHO

20-across – Summary law gives less than the correct amount : SHORTMEASURE

23-across – Good backlog not finished for tradesman : GROCER

24-across – Morally suspect behaviour of departing boy : GOINGSON

25-across – Bonnet, perhaps, hides top set of wheels : HEADGEAR

26-across – Short journey made for another in Clermont-Ferrand : ERRAND

2-down – Maiden, perhaps, says it’s your turn to speak : OVER

3-down – A fuel tub I mended is not ugly : BEAUTIFUL

4-down – Absolute savage in tree : ENTIRE

5-down – True street guide – you don’t know him from Adam : PERFECTSTRANGER

6-down – Number: a thousand in a gathering as a rule : NORMALLY

7-down – Settle up for a clocklike device : TIMER

8-down – Remarkable school put up with a local celebrity : NOTEWORTHY

12-down – Wave to attract pale animal : WHITEHORSE

15-down – Delivery boy holding pickle, green as it might be : MESSENGER

16-down – Friend with moving meter provides symbol of success : PALMTREE

19-down – I’m like a stalactite in dark red volcanic rock : PUMICE

21-down – Hurried to get account in the red : RACED

22-down – Blue Western concealed by university teacher : DOWN

1-across – Stiff stuff made by males … : BUCKRAM

5-across – … one of whom talks about meat in coral islands : BAHAMAS

9-across – Queen engulfed in volcano and left for ever : ETERNAL

10-across – Origin of the Bible : GENESIS

11-across – Duty on a lot of spirits? That was my idea : METHOUGHT

12-across – Resurrect the god that is Egypt’s head : RAISE

13-across – Cast hasn’t finished the quarrel : THROW

15-across – For 23down 24 no beer in the Arndale Centre’s the chief worry : ARCHFIEND

17-across – Forest destroyer’s regularity sounds a mathematical concept : LOGARITHM

19-across – Conservative member to 12 himself : CLIMB

22-across – Utility supplies hands across the Channel : MAINS

23-across – Unwanted growth has proceeded round the whole street : GALLSTONE

25-across – Cause lack of prefabrication in place of disrepute : DEPRIVE

26-across – Model place in Kipling’s tale by himself : CATWALK

27-across – Return cosy and glowing from report : GUNSHOT

28-across – What Internet users produce is ruin : TINTERN

1-down – Insect and rodent drink a little milk, under a pint : BEERMAT

2-down – City succeeding to win for another : CHESTER

3-down – Top of range: enter Beatle : RINGO

4-down – Spiteful male model about to get dressed : MALIGNANT

5-down – 23down changed to one that’s dyed in the wool : BIGOT

6-down – Respectful of choir in trouble : HONORIFIC

7-down – Girl I have reached by letter : MISSIVE

8-down – Turn the Guardian blue and it will stop functioning : SUSPEND

14-down – Writer sadly dims in value : WORDSMITH

16-down – Fellow member according to law knowing what goes on? : COMPLICIT

17-down – Delay about building of Dome – help needed with stile : LAMEDOG

18-down – Forbidding the writer : GRIMPEN

20-down – Press for time? It’s early days : IRONAGE

21-down – Interrupt a burglary? : BREAKIN

23-down – Take Oxford course : GREAT

24-down – : SATAN

9-across – Without hesitation, wicked and overbearing : IMPERIOUS

10-across – After 60 minutes, see one beautiful maiden : HOURI

11-across – Put on clothes-line, maybe, in den : HANGOUT

12-across – Case of vintage deposited in foyer : HOLDALL

13-across – Eagerly making an attempt – and ultimately winning : AGOG

14-across – What may be in store in French region : DEPARTMENT

16-across – Sound of cat getting back into bed – wicked! : CORRUPT

17-across – Officer’s unit left behind mountain pass : COLONEL

19-across – Where hay in transit may be keeping dry : ONTHEWAGON

22-across – Thrill created by half-visible predatory birds : BUZZ

24-across – Criticise a revolutionary for flamboyance : PANACHE

25-across – Dandy – foremost of comics with nothing wrong to rake through : COXCOMB

26-across – One of those known to be a vegetable : ONION

27-across – Flavour due to second fruit – minimum on front of tongue : SPEARMINT

1-down – Prim clot on march, unorthodox author : RICHMALCROMPTON

2-down – Free admission from old writer having got cross, upset : OPENDOOR

3-down – Black bird to stand in stream : BROOK

4-down – Support at lowest level : FOOTREST

5-down – Tricky maths, introduction to algebra, bringing complaint : ASTHMA

6-down – Greek character recently finding a hobby : PHILATELY

7-down – Compassionate tone when fellow is imprisoned : HUMANE

8-down – Be vile zealot and hit out – it’s in one’s character : VIOLETELIZABETH

15-down – Still agreeing initial bill should be ignored : QUIESCENT

17-down – Note needlework round front edge of tablecloth : CROTCHET

18-down – I recount suffering, becoming excessively depressive : NEUROTIC

20-down – Cartoon character is fool repeatedly shown up : TINTIN

21-down – Tending to discriminate against another generation as I get doddery : AGEIST

23-down – Skilful but lacking poise in exercise : EXERT