CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,960

ACROSS

1 Priest gets approval to block decree creating dilemma (11)

9 Make a mistake touring it, centre of weak African country (7)

10 A colleague sure to be without jacket unlike a professional? (7)

11 Gently touch

listening device (3)

12 Far from moderate tip (7) 13 Wealthy sort harbouring trouble gets to decline gradually (4,3)

14 Heading off, spots tree (3) 15 Beat it finally here

oddly with old boy (5)

17 Throw out English customer

firstly boarding plane (5)

18 Group of things in

clubhouse behind club (5) 20 Estimate made by hotel visitors running short of time (5)

22 Fight heard in

health resort (3)

24 Noticed male out of sorts

in wood factory (7)

25 More cheeky first

year student (7)

26 Order archives covering

long period (3)

27 Conservative rector becomes agitated? That’s right (7)

28 Some French geek ultimately has best type of computer (7)

29 Being in low spirits, cop

needs end to shift (11)

DOWN

1 Went on hated trip that’s messed up to let one’s hair down? (5,3,4,3)

2 Serious English composer enters establishment (7)

3 Independent judge

is angry (5)

4 Easy-going U.S. lawyer among a quiet set of diners (9)

5 Adam’s mate acquiring official document in turn is shifty (7)

6 Bet whether a post has to be reconstituted for those now in authority (3,6,4,2)

7 Information found on

woman in Swiss city (6) 8 One predicting the future, it’s said, for gain (6)

16 Equipment taken by German hiding article in Paris in opera (9)

18 Halve small piece after

grabbing moment (6) 19 Henry is free having moved around farm animals (7)

21 Good man notes scruffy cowboy’s trademark (7)

23 Uppity graduate with point about rugby that’s blunt (6)

25 Poster kept by U.S. agent is showing signs of deterioration? (5)

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 16,960, 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 54.