DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Bizarre idiot described armour (7) 5 Soldiers rejected companies’ baroque style (6) 9 It’s drunk almost hot in local ground (7) 10 Set aside matches every year for backs in doubt (4,3) 11 I leave most important piece on board (3) 12 Oddly, some men at energy utility lack a buffet (11) 13 500 + 500 sheets is ideal (5) 14 One girl accepts a strong drink that’s made up (9) 16 He’s for diversity in place I visited in mountains at Troy (9) 17 Spain’s opening competition (5) 19 Pass this first to get attractive job? (7,4) 22 First group of avocets turned over eggs (3) 23 Look in a war zone for contested island (7) 24 Research assistant’s content to give support for body (7) 26 Shares out bulbs mum ignored (6) 27 Show judge allowed 100 to enter (7)

DOWN

1 Delighted chief with weapons (7) 2 Sort of quaint insolence that’s of no importance (15) 3 It’s left after burning wood (3) 4 Several rounds also exploded across bow of Victory (5) 5 Offensive theatre worker goes round waving gun (9) 6 Cold fruits and French fries (5) 7 Cleo must choose a whipped dessert (9,6) 8 When I’m not 100%, swap parts for 24 hours leave (3,3) 12 Dance in South America a medic introduced (5) 14 Gelatine used in redesigning sailing ship (9) 15 Unable to move one rook into trap (5) 16 Meeting petty officer with widow I’d ignored (6) 18 Passage in broadcast Mark ignored (7) 20 State response at wedding embracing a husband (5) 21 Come to mind old dog Conservative housed (5) 25 Hitler got rid of party man (3)

PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 15,095, PO BOX 3451, Norwich, NR7 7NR. Entries may be submitted by second-class post. Envelopes must be postmarked no l