CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

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 16,888, 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 58.

ACROSS

6 Person who blocks outside broadcast fuss, one filling streets (14)

9 Frugally use fresh EU token before it expires (3,3)

10 Old soldiers faced line across Welsh river (8)

11 Scrupulous type left in poster (8)

13 Provided a series of books to entertain new child (6)

15 Notice fault

off course (6)

17 Unfinished task nearly all concerned with singing (6)

19 Urge nine to return to accept short job (6)

20 Cheap exercise in strange town followed by city (8)

22 March is organised by a compelling character (8)

24 Mark modifying sound coming from flügelhorn (6)

26 Prude suppresses sort of chic manner as pantomime hero (6,8)

DOWN

1 After salad, diner entertains a top NASA employee? (6,8)

2 Rings round leaders in Sierra Leone capital (4)

3 Harsh boring routine in endless dance (6)

4 Metalworker can mostly strike hard (8)

5 In the past, knight appeared in old church (4)

7 Device for shooting arrived with gunmen (6)

8 Crazy angler’s got a gun that disturbs some listeners (6,8)

12 Load Charlie placed on old ship (5)

14 Copy item used by 4? (5)

16 Completed folio in one outhouse (8)

18 Connect assault briefly with husband (6)

21 Work tactic without man at the top (6)

23 Where to bowl over in Kent in the middle (4)

25 Somewhere to hide Arab money that’s mounting (4)