CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16,488, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be date-stamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 69.

ACROSS

6 Top lawyer and strangely droll men go round part of church (4,10) 9 Reptile trapped in Antigua naturally (6) 10 Teenager brewed drink (5,3) 11 Charge at speed, somehow covering miles (8) 13 Charge a Republican during argument (6) 15 Stretch former nurse (6) 17 Reptiles return, beginning to harass char (6) 19 Regret broadcast involving old bishop (6) 20 Labour supporter, Northern Irish, working in Scottish islands (8) 22 Having nothing to do, one begins endless novel (8) 24 Essayist and US lawyer compose letter in Crete (6) 26 Bank greatly hit after collapsing in spectacular fashion (14)

DOWN

1 Fine portable wind instrument’s black box (6,8) 2 Marine mammal appears at the end of two Balearic Islands (4) 3 Throw away European stew (6) 4 Catholic English clubs tour Celtic ground (8) 5 Detailed aircraft drawing (4) 7 Rod left in rage (6) 8 When nothing goes right they season food wrongly (3,2,5,4) 12 Police ruler, a measuring device (5) 14 Like the best courses from lecturer — unambiguous (5) 16 Thrash we held in Asian capital (3,5) 18 Game is over in South Africa and another country (6) 21 Popular youth keeps one set in wood (6) 23 Paper edited initially at 10 in the morning (4) 25 They brought gifts, some unimaginable (4)

NEED A CLUE? Text TIP to 65700 to receive FOUR answers to today’s crossword, or call 0901 293 6236. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today’s clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.