CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 One assists Conservative

girl, not the best (6-5)

9 Bad city wife’s

edict once (4,3)

10 It’s needed to hear a

murder suspect (7)

11 Like small beast

of burden (3)

12 Tacitly mistreated in

a spiteful way (7)

13 State aims for first day

of month in Rome (7)

14 The main place to sit?

Not quite (3)

15 It’s often seen in garden or overturned container (5)

17 Greek character left diamonds for youngster (5)

18 It detected a submarine diving in Channel initially (5)

20 Beside a lake

playing golf (5)

22 Manoeuvring boat backwards in part of canal (3)

24 Fodder collector’s foray arranged in outskirts of Hawick (7) 25 A volume is brought in, split into tiny units (7) 26 Conclude part of 4 (3) 27 Irish writer vacated library in haste (7) 28 Spoil uniform in Dingle unexpectedly (7) 29 Published second cryptic clue note in Times: ‘It’s not fully clear’ (11)

DOWN

1 Office worker drops hints that involved securing Yankee (9,6) 2 Miner runs after

sheepdog (7)

3 Scandinavian country missing Republican?

Not at all (2,3)

4 Clubs censored widespread increase in noise (9)

5 Paint new Lycra piece, excluding odd bits (7)

6 Lover is thinking about someone who’s withdrawn (9,6) 7 Doctor hopes to get

over cold periods (6)

8 First of all thought about being entertained (6)

16 Results of fighting British flunkeys guarding earl? (5,4)

18 Crude hashtag leaving Henry shocked (6)

19 U.S. agents arrest informer going round old country (7) 21 Binge or diet? It’s

engaging Tynesider (7) 23 Article on sea based

on a central idea (6) 25 Cheers aid wayward

English university (5)

No 16,895 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 16,895, 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.