Bridge and crossword

A prize of £15 in book tokens will be awarded for the first correct solution opened. Solutions must reach Crossword No 4505, Country Life, Pinehurst II, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF, by

Tuesday, November 21. UK entrants only. ACROSS

1 Negotiable part perhaps of

theatre equipment (9, 5) 8 Bring in matter (6) 9 Maunder about without

weapons (7) 10 Waffle cloth stored in rows of hexagonal cells (9) 11 Practical joke expertise (5) 12 Spot large headline (6) 14 Courageous restructured small firm omits sales force results (8) 16 Mechanic to plan deviously (8) 19 Goes round clothing (6) 21 Principle to capture note (5) 22 Cheerful sailor gets the bird (5, 4) 24 right to leave band before finish of payment (7) 25 Night before take in small amount to develop gradually (6) 26 Show surprise at surgical treatment (5,2, 7)

DOWN

2 Let pensioner opt to write unsigned abusive missive (6-3, 6) 3 Nosy man uses false names (7) 4 Now it is as halves (2, 3) 5 Growl complaint (7) 6 Likely to read about screenwriter (7) 7 Prevent the medic to love lesson (8,3, 4) 13 Shade in Vietnam city (3) 14 Pro to enter (3) 15 Fool in embarrassing position (3) 17 Kicks ball between opponent’s legs for spices (7) 18 Chained to spiny anteater (7) 20 Lock part of surgery (7) 23 Opinion of coin (5)