DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

No 15,788

PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 15,788, 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.

ACROSS

1 Brave good soldier defends everyone (7)

5 One container on board creates protests (3-3)

9 Sentimental woman takes nothing back (7)

10 Court official or individual embraced by councillor (7)

11 Husband loves being first? That’s a surprise! (3)

12 Most of you reach goal after changing old study (11)

13 Start leaving out a meal (5)

14 Monarch’s son governs one place as a rule (9)

16 Lecturer goes round to expel one in sad state (9)

17 Republican is meeting Queen? That’s a step up (5)

19 Sponsors hold all the cards for cheap travellers (11)

22 Swimmer showing some lithe elegance (3)

23 Special policeman eats entire shellfish (7)

24 Flier faces horrible fate in the drink (4,3)

26 Handy American fuel tanks (6)

27 Land seemed to be cultivated around rear of barn (7)

DOWN

1 I left after okra — mouth’s sore (7)

2 Kookaburra greatly amused sailor on a ship (8,7)

3 Bacilli regularly give trouble (3)

4 Invigorating note (5)

5 Partisan’s first to secure a certain compound (9)

6 Trunk concealed in curator’s office (5)

7 Unusual moss component in bananas (3,6,6)

8 Diamond pattern, largely knitted, missing line (6)

12 A medic tours hospital for one purpose only (2,3)

14 The other 14 is picked up first (9)

15 Dealer distributes these vehicles across Germany (5)

16 Pollute rocky seabed (6)

18 Engineers let free (7)

20 The little sparrow consumes large dish of rice (5)

21 Bass hides in European sea plant (5)

25 Tree caught by zoom lens falling over (3)