SOLUTION TO PRIZE CROSSWORD No 15,985:

ACROSS: 1 Ironclad. 5 Gossip. 9 Spectral. 10 Dallas. 12 Cant. 13 Pyromaniac. 15 Short-tempered. 19 Rack-and-pinion. 23 Fraternity. 25 Omen. 28 Naiads. 29 Snowdrop. 30 Tundra. 31 Yeomanry. DOWN: 1 Insect. 2 Ocean. 3 Cute. 4 Analyst. 6 Omaha. 7 Soldier on. 8 Postcode. 11 Dove. 14 Iowa. 15 Sectarian. 16 Top. 17 Prig. 18 Drift net. 20 Dung. 21 Intense. 22 Snappy. 24 Eider. 26 Moron. 27 Swim.