CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,959

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 16,959, 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 50.

ACROSS

1 Firm in varied depots has something required for deliveries? (8)

5 Husband and daughter in a rut mostly and quietly broke (4-2)

9 Unusual patterns in

part of church (8)

10 Charlie and Oscar shortly employing relative (6)

12 Smooth number barring introduction (4)

13 Fine soldiers facing test with exercise around lake, say (3,7) 15 Film about staff, mature fellows, forming poor administration (13) 19 How padre’s wing possibly needs item for cleanliness (7,6) 23 One having belief to study? (10)

25 By the sound of it, gain college accommodation (4) 28 Pair with favoured church to see royal figure (6) 29 Singer, very old, beginning to confuse a set of items (8) 30 First of guests in Scottish town recalled minor complaint (6) 31 Learner enters shift at work for club (8)

DOWN

1 One at the wheel is a

snooker player? (6)

2 Voluntarily part with box

on top of equipment (5)

3 Former country music

star’s money (4)

4 Old map I misplaced — and

educational qualification (7) 6 Scent promoted in

Chesham or Amersham (5) 7 Criminal appraised

gets to vanish (9)

8 Cooking utensil put with cute teapot when drained, and a dish from Italy (8)

11 Something laid on

a Greek character (4)

14 It could be among

Bologna’s tipples? (4)

15 Gaining knowledge of German? It’s complicated (9)

16 Break first off to

take a rest (3)

17 Fool forgetting name

for whirlpool (4)

18 Pore over Western books in southern university, start of prep in operation (4,2,2)

20 Impose silence on source

of suspect jokes (4)

21 Lorna surprisingly in middle of cold is enjoying successful period? (2,1,4)

22 Children’s author notably

upset after losing article (6) 24 See most of ring in pub (5) 26 A line supported by ex-U.S.

president is similar (5)

27 Stick with name

in commercial (4)