DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

No. 15,856

ACROSS

1 My alternative route cuts borders of Surrey — pity (8) 5 Catch colleague backing off after recession (6) 9 Most remote thefts abroad are nearly hidden (8) 10 Time to send out paper (6) 12 Hat lost at first during match (4) 13 Police raid controversial magazine perhaps (10) 15 Like plantsman’s area for putting on felt (5-8) 19 Papers I’d pack round object (8,5) 23 Person who works well, creating vault (10) 25 I prepare large image (4) 28 Incomplete task nearly all performed by singers (6) 29 Lucy ran off round Institute of Cookery (8) 30 Gothic writer describes crazy shock treatment (6) 31 Clothing department males use offensive language (8)

DOWN

1 Iron tank top in, for instance, shelter (6) 2 Good marks based on exam (5) 3 Amateur reserved grey (4) 4 D-lister maybe isn’t completely skint, I hear (3-4) 6 Immature dragonfly agitates Diana (5) 7 Snooker items needed to wrap up rare healthy breaks? (4-5) 8 Prevent college blocking opening (8) 11 A sample of Frenchified audio equipment (2-2) 14 Former PM’s endless passion (4) 15 Verdant heath up where actors can relax (5,4) 16 It may bite filly in odd places (3) 17 Resident in Berlin ignores an originator of disease (4) 18 Fancy patching cover for retirement (8) 20 Dessert Italian restaurant served up … (4) 21 … to eat? Add in ice cream (7) 22 Competitor makes plea, changing sides (6) 24 Small firm’s big building in London (5) 26 Duck well-known bowler (5) 27 Heckle that man’s son (4) PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 15,856, 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.

SOLUTION TO PRIZE CROSSWORD No 15,853: ACROSS: 1 Heinous. 5 Biceps. 9 Red tape. 10 Onshore. 11 Era. 12 Greasy spoon. 13 Serif. 14 Thesaurus. 16 Maple leaf. 17 Puppy. 19 Attaché case. 22 Awe. 23 Write in. 24 Bunk bed. 26 Akimbo. 27 Renamed. DOWN: 1 Harness. 2 Indian rope-trick. 3 Ova. 4 Sieve. 5 Bookshelf. 6 Costs. 7 Photograph album. 8 Tennis. 12 Gaffe. 14 Thereunto. 15 Ample. 16 Miaows. 18 Yielded. 20 Cream. 21 Amber. 25 Nan.