BLANK OUT

A crossword you construct yourself, adding the answers and the blanks as you go. The clues are in sets of one, two, three or four guiding you to one, two, three or four words in each line (across) or column (down) indicated at the beginning of each set of clues. Each complete word has a blank at its beginning and end (unless it’s at the edge of the grid). Blanks are arranged symmetrically. To help you, we’ve given you a start with the answer to the clue on Line 5 – ‘Young mare’ – which yields the word ‘Filly’. This must sit in the centre of the line to preserve the symmetry.

ACROSS

1 Awareness; Protective material 3 Bloom on a plant; Old royal attendants 5 Piece of foliage; Young mare; Pack away 7 Small dish for cigarette butts; Easy adaptability 9 Gossip 11 Hour to turn in; Dangerous 13 Disinfect 15 Outline; Under 17 Funeral vigil; Split; Balanced, level 19 Unfairly raise a house price; Keep in contact 21 Slow leak; Explanatory plan

DOWN

A Prayer; Minor chess piece B Stocking support C Spicy Mexican dip; Army colour D Be the right size; Room under the roof; Adversary E Official robe; Attractive man F Stomach-related G Frighten; Oval shape H Cunning; Pork product I Wages note; Mystified J Dead ringer K Fall; Buddhist monk L Baltic or Caspian, eg; Third Greek letter; Hole in a needle M Incompetent; Face guard N Obese O Misaligned; Rear