CRYPTIC/QUICK CROSSWORD

Here’s your chance to win a Collins Concise English Dictionary. Complete the crossword using

either the cryptic or the quick clues and send it to us with your name and address. Send your solution to: Cryptic/Quick Crossword No. 508, The Irish Mail on Sunday, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Entries must be received by Thursday. The winner will be drawn from a hat. The winner of Cryptic/Quick Crossword No. 507 is Brendan Freeman, Lucan, Co. Dublin.

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Duets performing after start of opera’s got rid of (6) 4 They added copper in a set of headquarters (8) 9 Non-stick coating could be left on (6) 10 Spain permitted to return harbour transport mysteriously (8) 12 Exactly where a lift indicates what floor can be selected (2,3,6) 15 Let aluminium get to the bottom (5) 17 Alfred and Edward consuming fizzy cola that’s designated (9) 18 Carry rugby players to Wales, we hear (9) 19 Terrible lapse exposing a bit of bloomers (5) 20 Entirely covering Basie and everyone like him (2,3,6) 24 Twenty-five pound dog with combed back hair (8) 25 Sleep zones positioned round the centre of rooms (6) 26 Part of the leg jabs certain parties (8) 27 Black ornamentation inlaid for some glamorous people (3,3)

DOWN

1 Old heat spot treated by you initially with this healing technique (10) 2 Security palm off this old mining light (6,4) 3 Bring to mind approval accepted by first lady (5) 5 Bless earthly arrangement in an excited way (12) 6 Group of sailors exchanges kisses for articles of clothing (4,5) 7 Bad weather in the south presently (4) 8 Where you’ll find badger fight duck that’s gone missing (4) 11 Sir Alan going over what would make something more attractive (5-7) 13 Set up sound rig that is amazing (10) 14 Teenager finding benefit in a perfume (10) 16 The internet settled a description of a duck (3-6) 21 Cat to spring having lost its head (5) 22 Chooses old physical training second (4) 23 Against the New Testament being fed into artificial intelligence (4)