The Telegraph - TOUGHIE CROSSWORD NO: 3,222 - Feb 21 2024

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Clues Answers
Arrest female student following literary support BOOKSHELF
Cable disentangled from propeller ROPE
Escaped backing welfare age dropping FLEW
Fanatical, starts to rail against broadsheet papers RABID
Flood at home, before unknown disease INFLUX
Free stamp FRANK
Gardening society's head ignoring every small flower RHINE
Group prohibited on the radio BAND
Help agreed after former PM departs MAYDAY
I can time railway route ITINERARY
Island leader demoted: island makes excuse ALIBI
Just saint directed towards good prayers EVENSONG
Letter to Ephesians, a letter initially in a bottle PHIAL
Migrating base two kilometres inside Hertfordshire town TREKKING
Novel artist in adopting old pattern of lines STRIATION
Pale Ale, dismissing the French gibe ASHY
Clues Answers
Pick of the bunch? TOPBANANA
Putting down vegetable in spring finally SQUASHING
Sailor's dance is long around Navy mess HORNPIPE
Scarper with current friend, OK LEGITIMATE
School spaces filled by conspicuous person ENLIGHTEN
Send off team in return, abandoning court EXILE
Simple spider might describe its residence thus HOMESPUN
Statement found in rubbish by Detective King DIKTAT
Still since regularly excavating atomic mineral SILICA
Supply a boar, elk and a pouched creature KOALABEAR
Support tyre when cycling around India, showing decency PROPRIETY
Swelling of belly subsiding when top removed TUMESCENT
The German times race DERBY
Unfeeling second for Mister Big, seizing pawn IMPASSIVE
Vital newspaper employee entered text, perhaps KEYED
Way to decide winner of row about European holiday TIEBREAKER