GIANT CROSSWORD SOLUTION

ACROSS: 12 The Dark Ages. 13 Cotton. 14 Rather. 16 Opal. 17 Satisfied. 18 Cures. 19 Pips. 20 Hard to say. 22 Gusto. 23 Underwent. 27 Coppers. 30 Allege. 31 Poor. 32 Hated. 35 Fear. 36 Welfare. 38 Trio. 39 Frailty. 42 Intend. 45 Muses. 46 Segment. 47 Glee. 48 Iris. 50 Massage. 52 Worse. 54 Strode. 56 Debated. 57 Four. 59 Dessert. 61 Gold. 64 Spots. 66 Ruin. 67 Tangle. 69 Protest. 72 No trouble. 73 Green. 74 March past. 79 Open. 81 Prone. 82 False name. 83 Pole. 85 Porter. 86 Salary. 87 On your marks.

DOWN: 1 Chip. 2 Addled. 3 Presto. 4 Partial. 5 Sense. 6 Bond Street. 7 Stock. 8 In front of. 9 Wrested. 10 Step. 11 Response. 15 Minute. 21 Abode. 24 Wearing. 25 Floats. 26 Spring. 28 Purse. 29 Row. 33 Glimpse. 34 Grates. 37 Ensue. 40 Tweed. 41 Revered. 43 Nerve. 44 Dammed. 46 Sawed. 49 Shatter. 51 Around. 53 Rustle. 55 Right. 58 Return fire. 60 Tar. 62 Lists. 63 Full house. 65 Pooh-pooh. 68 Needle. 70 Support. 71 Paragon. 75 Cherry. 76 Poplar. 77 Dealt. 78 Leant . 80 Note. 84 Like. PRIZE CROSSWORD £20 WINNERS

No. 15,685: M. Hall, Essex; A. Nolan, Merseyside; J. Wilks, West Yorkshire.

No. 15,686: M. Rowley, Hampshire; V. Ballestra, Staffordshire; K. Ritchie, West Midlands.

No. 15,687: W. Haysman, Essex; G. Pridding, Cheshire; G. Pearson, West Yorkshire.

No. 15,688: J. Bennett, Devon; T. Gordon, Dunfermline; M. Freestone, Warwickshire.

No. 15,689: C. Monk, Lancashire; M. Brooks, Surrey; T. Morgan, West Midlands.