CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16,410, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be datestamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 68.

ACROSS

1 Oil spilt in clumsy Monsieur’s style of painting (11) 9 Add some spice to nuts, about 54 (7) 10 HM’s representative ruins victory, replacing time with energy (7) 11 First woman’s still not finished (3) 12 One studying pupils is introduced to old sect (7) 13 People start to take short break that can relieve congestion (7) 14 Spout first bits of Gilbert and Sullivan (3) 15 Scottish team avoid second red card (5) 17 Spin story about college’s brilliant display (5) 18 Occasionally quit during contest, severely criticised (3,2) 20 Peg inhales helium for a laugh (2-3) 22 Irish Republic’s leader quits, causing fury (3) 24 Turtle lacks power making ground (7) 25 Quiet, oddly eerie about midnight when moon’s closest (7) 26 Cut ten in A&E (3) 27 Sporty Spanish car’s precarious position (3,4) 28 Missing golf, move abroad – Abu Dhabi, say (7) 29 Like some swords, having their pros and cons (6-5)

DOWN

1 After treatment, say, pal turned out kind of fat (15) 2 Denounce independent vicar originally in Bray (7) 3 Block of flats abandoned by men in principle (5) 4 Adoring couple’s 6-0 game? (4,5) 5 Smoke in church in Cuba seen dissipating (7) 6 Changing trains here damages ship’s rope securing fish (11,4) 7 Fit in first bits of beech, elm and pine (6) 8 Talked about little island’s small hole (6) 16 A Liberal houses a new tenant associated with Labour? (9) 18 Memorable woman tours clubs (6) 19 Flatten out dish with precious metal (7) 21 Making mistake about a personal adornment (7) 23 Caught someone leaving city in southwest (6) 25 Work out 11 and 5 (5)

NEED A CLUE? Text TIP to 65700 to receive FOUR answers to today’s crossword, or call 0901 293 6236. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today’s clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.