CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,873

ACROSS

6 Noel’s postal greetings (9,5) 9 Coup cuts supply within parish boundaries (6) 10 Start changing, say, variable plan of action (8) 11 Henry meets seaman in Dubai complex not far from here (3,5) 13 Stop and speak to current fellow on street (6) 15 Subtlety is disregarded during plague (6) 17 Three-quarters of dose for Florence’s family (6) 19 Attempt to surround old superior westbound vessels (1-5) 20 Auditor left entries in a mess (8) 22 Play cup-and-ball with European that’s responsible (8) 24 Register fastest time perhaps (6) 26 Attribute first apparent in person in charge (14)

DOWN

1 Cleaner getting rid of tangled shrub (9,5) 2 Insignia of a Royal Mail Ship (4) 3 A tortuous maths problem involving tubes (6) 4 Extract of code man resubmits reflecting ID (8) 5 Quarter animal, the first to be unloaded (4) 7 Service provided for mountainous region (6) 8 Absorb booklet I’ve sent in for canal system (9,5) 12 American lawyer keeps stuff for theatre (5) 14 This writer’s introduced to revolutionary ring (5) 16 Discount odd bits of coal bachelor kept in shed (8) 18 Do fellow Anglicans receive shelter? (6) 21 Sally bewildered Tories (6)23 Trim couple picked up (4) 25 Capital maybe Italian’s hidden in case of cutlery (4)

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 16,873, 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+, excl NI. Terms apply, see Page 56.