CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

WIN £500

ACROSS

1 Bather panics, conserving energy to take in air (7) 5 Case seedy joint, absorbing atmosphere (6) 9 Strengthen giant, as quoted (7) 10 Mix glue at first into enamel compound (7) 11 Drag gangster out of hotel (3) 12 Work involving hint merged with clue? I do that too (4,3,4) 13 British doctor appears in first-rate Disney work (5) 14 Driver faces this committee after race (9) 16 Anyone can broadcast exasperation (9) 17 Footwear merchandise — tons scrapped (5) 19 Angry clan break in to shorten cast’s last appearance (7,4) 22 Better fish disregarding river (3) 23 Point out a conservative old car (7) 24 Trained agent put in second current producer (7) 26 Children meet radical publisher (6) 27 Fantasised about visiting titled lady and duke (7)

DOWN

1 Where to get pristine books about that fancy uniform (7) 2 Promising bands get gigs with arena thrown in (10,5) 3 Shot duck during races (3) 4 In nearly all night in Paris? That’s boring (5) 5 Send out idiot in Delaware for a cup of coffee (9) 6 What señorita exhibits until decency hides it (5) 7 All-American vice ruined dessert (7,3,5) 8 Like seabird’s feet when water initially receded (6) 12 Hot first half of July, then very cold (5) 14 Where train passenger buys fare (6,3) 15 Herb is in laboratory, all upset (5) 16 Welcome mushroom during part of play (6) 18 Two-thirds of poodle was frizzy, the part next to the bark (7) 20 A person in synagogue said goodbye (5) 21 Injured cockney’s equipped with weapon (5) 25 Good Europeans go faster (3)

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 16,881, 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+, excl NI. Terms apply, see Page 58.