BARE BONES

Complete the grid – numbers and squares. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a four-way symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away. Answer next week.

Across

7 Rock turned up rodents

8 A match is burning

11 Offers, as a prize, a gentleman thief

12 Thomas, say, upsetting brute after party

13 Put oysters around trifle

15 Deity has left something precious

16 University gets backing of small flying saucers (Initials)

18 Edge of the material

21 A lot of books showing sign next to railway

22 Also terribly neat tempo

23 Emblem worn by large bottle

24 Craving shirt, wasted time

Down

1 Showman gets invoice

for cattle (Two words)

2 Search for a weapon

3 Most excellent, capturing a creature

4 Dance endlessly around on your head – that’s sweet

5 Six registered American infective agent

6 Snap end in close thing (Two words)

9 Delicate dossier containing scrap

10 Part of fridge is more bracing

14 Now employees have to be obliged

17 Nag about doctor going round for fruit

18 Laugh about desire for a predator

19 Animal taken around island

20 Notice party has to improvise (Two words, hyphenated)