Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman, 06/03/14

Across

1 Bill will take effect, so join the police (4,4,5)

10 After second attempt, can put forward a proposal (5)

11 Take off for island to find one to service appliances (9)

12 Applies to step into one organisation (9)

13 Leading man in stage encounter resembles Scrooge (5)

14 Did residents pen in small popular seabirds? (7)

16 Figure out how to rescind development (7)

18 Stays in order to surround the French (7)

20 Come across uranium close to the dock (7)

21 Begin to till staple crop in a short time (5)

23 How would a thrush get along on open country? (9)

25 Then reads about old cattlemen (4-5)

26 One day, choose to take on someone else (5)

27 Familiar individual fastens onto celebrities (13)

Down

2 Takes a regular course, or a part of it (5)

3 Choose to take an exam relating to constituents (9)

4 Runs over, right away, to make one tense (7)

5 Old priest pretended to be different ... (7)

6 ... while another old priest led one, with some hesitation, to a narcotic (5)

7 Approaches, or acts the part up close (5,4)

8 Means to gradual progress to help one get across runner (8-5)

9 The men rent out empty castles to build new fortifications (13)

15 Finish a period of study in a vacant theatre (9)

17 Long-established firm dedicated to stable (9)

19 South American forces run on to dye, it’s said (7)

20 Use up tin left out to make implement (7)

22 The philosophy of a quiet hospital ... (5)

24 ... before going into rehab, over the weekend (5)

Yesterday’s solution

Across: 1 Derogatory, 6 Opal, 10 Orgiastic, 11 Adam’s, 12 Needle, 13 Prosaic, 15 Agreeable, 18 Nuala, 19 Incur, 21 Automatic, 23 Upended, 24 Banana, 27 Attic, 28 Altimeter, 29 Dare, 30 Determined.

Down: 1 Drop, 2 Rogue, 3 Grandee, 4 Title, 5 Recipient, 7 Play a part, 8 Last chance, 9 Saloon, 14 Maximum and, 16 Rochester, 17 Board game, 20 Reduce, 22 Minimum, 24 Bathe, 25 Not on, 26 Grid.