This crossword No. 12757 clues and answers were published on Thu 31 Mar 2011 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Quick Crossword No. 12757 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Former Northern county … : CUMBERLAND
7-across – … tube-shaped case of minced pork : SAUSAGE
8-across – Opera composer : VERDI
10-across – Mature : RIPE
11-across – Immaculate : SPOTLESS
13-across – Sad song : LAMENT
15-across – One that can last the course : STAYER
17-across – Battle in Westerns : GUNFIGHT
18-across – Tightly closed shellfish : CLAM
21-across – Countrified : RURAL
22-across – Town in Somerset : TAUNTON
23-across – Flammable illuminating material : PHOSPHORUS
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Group of trees : CLUMP
2-down – Food taken at a particular time : MEAL
3-down – Permitted to be unaffected : EXEMPT
4-down – Rise into the air by magic? : LEVITATE
5-down – Place for young plants : NURSERY
6-down – One who reads the stars : ASTROLOGER
9-down – Means of precision work : INSTRUMENT
12-down – Caribbean islands : ANTILLES
14-down – Sole hereditary ruler : MONARCH
16-down – Roof covering : THATCH
19-down – Mythical plant inducing languor : LOTUS
20-down – Former US vice-president — dialect way of pronouncing R : BURR
This crossword has in total 24 where 12 are across and 12 are down.