CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Campanologists drink gallons with fractious reactionaries (5-7) 8 State of popular goddess (7) 9 I sat uncomfortably among spies back from China maybe (7) 11 Minor event starts to annoy landlord (10) 12 Flyer about to go in two directions! (4) 14 Discover clothes shop after work, a place to splash out? (8) 16 Recall well-known horse crime (6) 17 Zip top of booby trap (3) 19 Tourist centre put in another order (6) 21 Note first of threads in needlework (8) 24 Lazy maid left blankets (4) 25 Originally bring flower cut for cleaner after meal (6,4) 27 Greek with his mother or her mother perhaps (7) 28 It covers roads and paths running round a lake (7) 29 Sponsor’s been working alongside fine performer (12)

DOWN

1 Contracts dealing with clubs cutting fees (7) 2 Leading quartet in 27 has info on artist in musical show (5,5) 3 Exercise mounting skill in batting with Glamorgan’s opener (8) 4 Book One has turned up with first-rate contents (6) 5 Hard work taking end off beam (4) 6 Stopped working and went to bed (7) 7 Malta is home for porcelain that’s deceptive (12) 10 Pay tribute to large count at ground (12) 13 Funny projectile is captured at sea (7,3) 15 Swindle college medic (3) 18 One showing off British paper and good paintings, say (8) 20 Rescue fierce lion initially intruding (7) 22 Cheers king mobbed by rowdy yahoos (7) 23 Insect digests acid in calcium (6) 26 Border of red geraniums (4)

No. 16,208 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 16208, 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+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 64.