DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Old timer starts to fend off women in group (3,5) 5 Note worried doctor in Bury (6) 9 Moved over a bit to no avail (8) 10 Bar student learned somehow to inspire affection (6) 12 Frank, old writer (4) 13 They designate donations arranged by old poets (5,5) 15 Review why Chay rowed in all directions (5,5,3) 19 Demure European cleric is head of government (5,8) 23 Lack of adornment hinted at in outskirts of Sydney (10) 25 Cook rarely includes edible pods (4) 28 Ask the man endlessly to reveal chest complaint (6) 29 Cocky Arsenal’s front two sound off about own goal (8) 30 Boats remain around to save chief (6) 31 Negligence? Ring embassy (8)

DOWN

1 Get tired running for jug (6) 2 Liquor bottle initially has leak (5) 3 Tax rates occasionally generate creative activities (4) 4 Conservative climber tackles trouble with courtesy (7) 6 Property managers accept single piece of music (5) 7 Defeat remaining state (9) 8 Brides displayed the old geometric pattern (5-3) 11 Flyer’s parent ignoring monarch (4) 14 Give up what’s broadcast on radio (4) 15 Gin and It shaken with mace? That’s puzzling (9) 16 Secure unfinished annexe (3) 17 Remove English sweet (4) 18 A Pole, say, controversially repudiating religion (8) 20 Visit China, not all of it for long (4) 21 Temporary popular period involving India (7) 22 Jack Brown checked material (6) 24 Writer’s landed outside boundary (5) 26 Brown fabric used to make Gurkha kitbags (5) 27 Clothes collected up by son (4)

PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 15,696, PO BOX 3451, Norwich, NR7 7NR. Entries may be submitted by second-class post. Envelopes must be postmarked no later than tomorrow. Please make sure you enclose your name and address.