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 828, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries must arrive by Friday, March 2 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on March 18 from the first correct entry drawn. Winner of Bare Bones No 825: B. Walker, of Warrington, Cheshire.

Across

5 31 days, getting no new order from ruler 7 House of Commons official has a part of hi-fi 10 Left old ship to have a bit of fun 11 Tree fruit can be a painful affliction 12 Chief sobs when ill-treated 13 Telly addict watches frame that has food on it (Two words) 16 Tie played with university, in case 17 A French one takes on a trade association 18 Surgeon has a strong inner drive 19 Moderately slow, also with neat adjustment 20 Person’s ancestry shows moral degeneracy

Down

1 Highly principled Frenchman has spoken 2 Public vacation on which you can rely (Two words) 3 Talk, having a drink and a chop (Two words) 4 Conversed about a bit of poetry 6 Ali formerly on bench that may be seen in the French Open (Two words) 8 Contrition of Eastern fool who’s in the money 9 Plod about, greeting northern swimmer 14 Daring feat to amaze the leader 15 In the past, city was in severe pain