BARE BONES

WIN A COLLINS ENGLISH DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS SET, AND A BRADFORD’S CROSSWORD SOLVER’S DICTIONARY

Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have to complete the grid – numbers and squares – as well. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a fourway symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away. There is a prize of a Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus set, and a Bradford’s Crossword Solver’s Dictionary. Send your solution to: Bare Bones Puzzle No 874, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries must arrive by Friday, January 18 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on February 3 from the first correct entry drawn. Winner of Bare Bones No 871: Linda Woollen, of Sheffield. NAME ............................................................................................................................... .. ADDRESS ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................... ................ POSTCODE .................................... TELEPHONE...........................................................

ACROSS

7 Joined after Edward has left college 8 Copper last out with small weapon 10 Terribly fat at the back 11 I’m back after staff caught argument 12 Nevertheless, time is an idea 13 Dismiss, guarding top of the pile 14 Strong car design I would pursue 19 Saw me worried about nothing – energy is amazing 20 Hulk, say, turning green following a victory 21 Riskier, having to go downhill fast 22 Vital circle that keeps things together 23 Singer loses his head, the idiot

DOWN

1 After trophy, father has some tea 2 American outlaw had a young male goat (Three words) 3 Knocked right out, unable to proceed 4 Hurried to get husband a pen 5 Having fun with gossip on nitrous oxide (Two words) 6 Devise a test for condition 8 Comedian to reserve a picture magazine (Two words) 9 Put an end to, then encourage, a meat snack (Two words) 15 Fleas flying around? That’s not true 16 Bishop terribly early, having lost a stone 17 Soldier caught mother starting sorcery 18 Pressure increased for written language