DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Oil company expert nearly reveals what’s in old records (7) 5 I was flying round Netherlands to find relatives (2-4) 9 Whole unit’s green — it needs to be refurbished (7) 10 Drunk chose to imbibe litres (7) 11 One in Paris steals royal vessel (3) 12 Choir blended with Caruso in contrasting work (11) 13 Slander gets me arrested, imprisoned (5) 14 Spooner’s turf mounds are sources of warmth (4,5) 16 Do extra work to create piano sonata (9) 17 Dandruff’s beginning to clear in waves (5) 19 Team achieves undesirable results (4,7) 22 Occasionally strike match (3) 23 Unpleasant character whose name escapes me (2-3-2) 24 Ask for crude oil in small city, ignoring terminal (7) 26 Coin wrapped in notes in cell (6) 27 Like a circle without pals (except Friday) (7)

DOWN

1 Mistakes made by small schoolchildren, upset (4-3) 2 Pact prepared to end eternal ice (7,8) 3 Delay giving gir a lift (3) 4 Small dog climbing in big rocks (5) 5 Writer’s left holding bronze key (9) 6 Hair fasteners (5) 7 It becomes a wet oscular mush if drunk (6,9) 8 Extra features put on during commercials (3-3) 12 Pink radical wears black stuff (5) 14 Pretentious, like astronauts? (4-5) 15 Place limits on second very big change in Mexico (5) 16 Is America stopping Middle East’s harsh treatment? (6) 18 It’s safe staggering holidays abroad (7) 20 Duck about to perish, heading north (5) 21 Class players supported by Spain (5) 25 Cover short swimming pool (3)

NO 15179 PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 15,179, PO BOX 3451, Norwich, NR7 7NR. Entries may be submitted by second-class post. Envelopes must be...