CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,668

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 16,668, 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 64.

ACROSS

6 Popular article about shortest term in grammar (8,6) 9 Perhaps solicitor’s wife occupies bed (6) 10 Doctor wears more painful round headgear (8) 11 G&S work needs tenor in old repeat broadcast (8) 13 Beef or game (6) 15 Stop one politician accompanying old PM nonstop (6) 17 Chrysanthemums garlanding item in Songs of Praise? (6) 19 Master raging river (6) 20 Put down drink and newspapers (8) 22 Ambassador links complex with international capital (8) 24 Old vehicle appearing in Queensland, Australia (6) 26 What’s bull doing in its favourite patch? (8,6)

DOWN

1 Regret police officer’s post (14) 2 Perhaps Nelson’s turbulent place at sea (4) 3 Right way to point up fungal problem? (3,3) 4 Check up on writer’s piece, one used by mobster (5,3) 5 Slightly open a container (4) 7 Informal American excluded from clubs as usual (6) 8 Seasonal mail crams disc with trash somehow (9,5) 12 Indian bread’s increased, concerning English banks (5) 14 Different article seized by soldiers (5) 16 Chronic disorder meant I’d got confused about Spain (8) 18 Interrogator’s job when with leading man (6) 21 Miserable attempt to support chum (6) 23 Reservoir has problem with pipe at first (4) 25 Rising star possesses ordinary common sense (4)