Hard as a westerner's heart (5)

I believe the answer is:

stern

'hard' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'a westerner's heart' is the wordplay.
'heart' says to take the centre.
The middle of 'westerner' is 'STERN'.

'as' is the link.

(Other definitions for stern that I've seen before include "Severe and unremitting: area of a ship" , "Dour" , "Unyielding - rump" , "Severe, demanding" , "Harsh at the back of the ship" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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