After yesterday’s super-difficult Bannsider, this was easier from Phi, with some pleasing clues and all is clear.
Solving time: 22 mins
* = anagram
ACROSS
1 BIRDSEED Excellent cryptic definition punning on “peck”
9 TEA (TOWEr)L teal = blue-green
14 BARREL-CHESTED Favourite clue – excellent cryptic definition exploiting meanings of “butt”
17 PERSIAN CARPET (cries apparent)* Excellent misleading definition “unexpected flier”
20 TEA SINGLY
23 ROOT BEE R Worker = bee watch out also for ant
24 REF USE use and ref “switched”
DOWN
1 BA (THROw)BE
4 EYE-CATCHING eye of the storm
5 HERBAL TEA (the arable)* Ground can be a very useful anagram indicator for setters
13 SWEENEY TODD (doesn’t dye we)* The Demon Barber of Fleet Street who murdered his customers and rhyming slang for the Flying Squad
17 P LAY-OFF
18 POMP EI I (i ie reflected)
19 STUP (Puts up) OR = other ranks = soldiers Worth remembering
21 L U TON (all reversed from “upset”)