DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 15,569, PO BOX 3451, Norwich, NR7 7NR. Entries may be submitted by second-class post. Envelopes must be postmarked no later than tomorrow. Please make sure you enclose your name and address. ACROSS 1 Hirst designed tops (‘less work’) — these tops? (1-6) 5 Dry former prime minister (not North) quit (6) 9 Friend imports revolutionary chopper (7) 10 Brutally, hounds welcome this cry (5-2) 11 Confess wife’s inside, working (3) 12 Turn up information that is inspiring society (11) 13 Fool engulfed by deep pit (5) 14 Stone thrower cast longish stone, missing one (9) 16 Curtain hides cool sleuth and his escape route? (9) 17 Bog spoils hotel (5) 19 Left paper lamenting death of missing posh celeb (7,4) 22 Neckwear for breakfast in bed primarily? (3) 23 Swine repeats brief call for help (2-3-2) 24 Chemical used in tests on mole (7) 26 Bumped into English soldiers shooting star (6) 27 Code in Parisian tomb (7) DOWN 1 Snake squeezes large cat first — fair game? (7) 2 He retains a racing-car key specially for cab (7,8) 3 A handful of very early cereal (3) 4 Street borders tiny course (5) 5 Stormy sea outside? Go to bed sombre (9) 6 Local lady accommodates Lily (5) 7 Big Brother lady wasted yen in blatant extortion (8,7) 8 Self-effacing majority touring Germany and Spain (6) 12 Stonecutter creates ‘Mother and Child’ (5) 14 Secure party men for opening (5,4) 15 On-line competitor beating American guards (5) 16 Duke and King receive a parent’s table linen perhaps (6) 18 Tabitha’s unusual natural environment (7) 20 At home with daughter, I start to examine small label (5) 21 Peter Sellers accepted part that’s succinct (5) 25 Line showing a regular curve principally (3)