CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,528

ACROSS

6 Type of gun conspiracy to guard current navigation aid (9,5) 9 Old military protection which defends home (3,3) 10 Employed in Paris, he’s involved in various duties (8) 11 Relocate a clay-pit? That’s unusual (8) 13 Back up provided, extremely accommodating (6) 15 Big cat circles a rare box containing cords (6) 17 Drain river, spearing fish (6) 19 Witness agreement partially backing approval (6) 20 Whiskey contributed to light head and indecency (8) 22 Note received by more religious innkeeper (8) 24 Fastest riders keep pace (6) 26 Drilling nearby disrupted facility for readers (7,7)

DOWN

1 Unstable isotope cleared for detector at Jodrell Bank (5,9) 2 Eat out and suchlike at hotel (4) 3 It makes me sick to quote this writer? On the contrary (6) 4 Long to secure one very brief performer (8) 5 Female judge welcomed by 11 Pacific islands (4) 7 Make disorderly rebellious louts start to explain (6) 8 Need soft-shoe shuffle with a Yankee eventually (3,2,5,4) 12 Analyse expected scores by golfer at end of game (5) 14 Arrest bankrupt concealing name (3,2) 16 It supplies energy, even when Mike comes in (8) 18 More than one mate tours Louvre on odd occasions (6) 21 Cooking ingredient used to be somewhat incomplete (6) 23 Nelson’s circular movement at sea (4) 25 Horse excavates core of mountain ash (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 16,528, 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 datestamped 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 72.