CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Finish off police officer’s plot (8) 5 Didn’t go to bed around hotel, so did the dishes (4,2) 9 Trying to plant rambling rose in hour, say (8) 10 Steer clear of fine state

with no backing (6) 12 Tense experienced journalist disheartened guy (4) 13 A lot admire novel that’s

specially suited? (6-4) 15 Flasher in road can be a bolshie if mistreated (7,6) 19 Programme that’s issued by commanderin-chief (5,2,3,3) 23 Riotous Yank having row

in band (3-7) 25 A portion of apple sauce

for Isaac’s boy (4) 28 Defoe tale includes description of unborn animal (6) 29 Beset by worries, Irish politician hides money in Moscow (8) 30 Angler uses this book

of accounts (6) 31 Regulate soldier avoiding second officer’s aide (8)

DOWN

1 Delay doctor receiving one article (6) 2 Shoot a small number out of season (5) 3 Members of Royal Society as well (4) 4 Draughtsman’s instrument that’s boxed by sailors (7) 6 Travellers upset about posh affair (5) 7 Here in Berlin toxophily ignores monarch’s ranking system (9) 8 Essential compounds displayed in poster (8) 11 It’s tiny and a trifle annoying to some extent (4) 14 Obscure Britpop

band (4) 15 Graduates in education quietly study counterpane (9) 16 Hikers use this primarily as a shelter (3) 17 Mary Baker’s current

movement (4) 18 Sad moment with whole

contents of vessel (8) 20 Cook hosts top-class Greek goddess, one of three (4) 21 Old invaders fear leaving

part of county once (7) 22 Expert and German

entering mine (6) 24 Old judge to speak

pompously (5) 26 South America twice embracing Latin dance music (5) 27 Authority’s contribution to Uruguayan revolution (4)

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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 16,434, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. PleaseW 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 date-stamped 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 64.