DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

No 15,771

ACROSS

1 English novelist obtaining policeman’s paper output (4,4) 5 Writer defends street café (6) 9 British pub, one containing large compass housing (8) 10 Straight man goes to dances (6) 12 Nothing works? Sorry, it’s my fault (4) 13 Piglet’s friend twice ends in odd places, mocked (4-6) 15 I assumed cook only decorates cakes for top lawyers (5,8) 19 Aid to progress? Two ways, one involving Essex town (8,5) 23 Bad soaking ruined culinary ingredient (6,4) 25 Scrutinise small tin (4) 28 John and family’s opportunity to take part (4-2) 29 Trustworthy Liberal converted European (8) 30 Last school exam all about First Lady (1,5) 31 Judge arranges a set time (8)

DOWN

1 New and old absorbed in endless pastime mix socially (6) 2 Approach Republican name in Ulster Unionist Party (3-2) 3 Burn fish (4) 4 Achieve opening of parliament full of rebels (4,3) 6 Some paint round earliest bars (5) 7 Colonel avoids blend of hot chocolate, suffering this? (9) 8 Old poem about party that could be fatal (8) 11 How you were referred to once in courthouse (4) 14 Feature of speech is included in record (4) 15 Lip, black one, part of skull (9) 16 Run and jump over gate primarily (3) 17 Legendary city partially destroyed (4) 18 Spanish queen lives with a beautiful Italian (8) 20 Boy picked up head of horrible grub (4) 21 Send a different ship in gloom (7) 22 Was it added by queen to accommodate former lover? (6) 24 Innocent resident wastes time (5) 26 Firm supporter of emergency cabinet committee (5) 27 Hotel International keeps providing sound system (2-2)

PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 15,771, 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.