BARE BONES

NO.535

Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have to complete the grid – numbers and squares – as well. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a four-way symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away. There is a prize of a Collins Pocket Thesaurus. Send your solution to: Bare Bones Puzzle No.535, The Irish Mail on Sunday, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Entries must arrive by Friday (photocopies not accepted). The winner of Bare Bones No.534 is Shay McKenna, Malahide, Co. Dublin.

Across

1 Sound disapproving, like a snake 4 Picture having beer with leader of regiment 7 Stop eating in a rapid manner 9 Healthy despite cold weather report 10 Illumination is not serious 11 Nothing about a form of digital protection 12 Place of worship either side of the head 13 Evil fellow has left soldier returning 14 Where batsman has to stand and fold 18 Clean sand around lake 20 Rely on a financial institution 21 Being out on excessive bout of drinking 22 A method of not being at home 23 Burn the tea 24 Destroy what’s left of the ship 25 Specified day for fruit

Down

2 Furious buccaneer has lost his head 3 He has to be out to go out 4 Bean shows sign of life 5 Somehow got in to bar 6 Baby has me returning symbolic object 7 Bill’s last request (Two words) 8 Police operation can be a pain 15 Get as far as part of the river 16 The Spanish show respect to joint 17 Feeling that may be common 18 Become separated in interval 19 Church has a book to sing