CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Old fellow strode around, looking stern (2-5) 5 What florist may use

to hurry this writer (6) 9 Romans managed to capture a galley slave (7) 10 Gold Middle East strip

contains new fabric (7) 11 Some smuggle invaluable European coins (3) 12 Adjust parable — bring in shorter sentence perhaps (4-7) 13 I’m backing student

organisation less (5) 14 Old cross an idiot modified to reveal rust maybe (9) 16 Pests one’s kept in shade suffered at first (9) 17 Over 100 former police about to turn out (5) 19 With alacrity, Ted organised milk suppliers (5,6) 22 A little impertinent

brat (3) 23 A kind of orange

pottery from Japan (7) 24 Swindle girl importing

European cake (7) 26 Annie for one works

on harp (6) 27 Top soldiers

pursue drink (7)

DOWN

1 Investigate male

concealing large issue (7) 2 Cleric from abroad’s a member of the cabinet (7,8) 3 Piece of Precambrian

tooth (3) 4 Conservative impressed

by Scandinavian steps (5) 5 Figures old medic regularly copied in the Royal Horticultural Society (9) 6 First to leave tragic setback for the Big Smoke? (5) 7 Canned Irishman cooked

English tongue (8,7) 8 Ingredient of red wine nearly all turning brown (6) 12 A street in Pennsylvania

supplies Italian food (5) 14 Amateur in canoeing crashed one more time (4,5) 15 Make up a sound (5) 16 New suit tailored to captivate date? This type won’t wear it (6) 18 Drive back salesperson at university, a London one (7) 20 Early years in Yarmouth after branch pulled out (5) 21 Correct signs

for parasites (5) 25 Pile sodium on top

of phosphorous (3)

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 16,851, 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 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+, excl NI. Terms apply, see Page 60.