CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,699

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 16,699, 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 56.

ACROSS

1 Old harassed staff, say, circulating behind the scenes (8) 5 Repugnant chief of

police did this? (6) 9 Unnerving article

about dispute (8) 10 Is it among the classier

ranges? (6) 12 Nurses originally in A&E start to work once more (4) 13 American in Oslo held unusual item in child’s room (5,5) 15 We selected nursing students with ideal equipment (4-9) 19 Question my other aunt about how everything works? (7,6) 23 Lady managed to control match to a satisfactory degree (10) 25 Work with aluminium

and stone (4) 28 Barman in possession

of such opinions? (6) 29 I feel awful in large vessel that’s departed (8) 30 Old officials cut back,

saving energy (6) 31 A US soldier and

Irish MP dined inside in distress (8)

DOWN

1 Ban Open University Disney retrospective? (6) 2 Carrying clubs,

passenger shambles (5) 3 Draw northern

built-up area (4) 4 Carrier in Venice beginning to drift in windy lagoon (7) 6 PA people involved

in a mishap (5) 7 Current system consists

of two types of track (9) 8 Notice object in some Parisian blind alleys (4,4) 11 Attach piece of film (4) 14 Flyer ignoring

current plan (4) 15 Brace constructed from baleen — and how! (9) 16 Darling’s fit of pique (3)

17 Press club (4) 18 Mark reserves rectangular space for police vehicle (5,3) 20 Winger’s number missing from middle of May, say (4) 21 Bloke with record in German’s lending a hand (7) 22 Ceased operating near

Land’s End (6) 24 Join platoon at start

of exercise (5) 26 Gather group of

people attending (5) 27 Dry time for 6,

for example (4)