CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,534

ACROSS

1 Peacocks unavailable in displays (4-4) 5 Starter made from crab is questioned (6) 9 Not much money gained from shopping in the centre (8) 10 Noel’s old wife interrupting king, say (6) 12 Cover over swimming pool (4) 13 Timber supplier cut Paul? Yes, after being misled (10) 15 Experimental broadcast about country in fear (5-3-5) 19 Festival secretary cons U.S. lawman in mucky place (2,8,3) 23 Welcome awkward situation (3-2-3-2) 25 Picked up plugs for woodcutter (4) 28 Cloud over study about menagerie (6) 29 Power unit briefly installed in heart of brickworks (8) 30 Silent cast pay attention (6) 31 Online ID menus are scrambled (8)

DOWN

1 Clear up land (6) 2 Old poet ate duck egg, for instance (5) 3 Finished deliveries at Lord’s (4) 4 Primarily fair and authentic, like the news (7) 6 Paradox that’s cryptically fey? (5) 7 Quarry let out four times a year (9) 8 Consumers sure to be confused with external finishes (3,5) 11 Left bit of cereal for grassed area (4) 14 It’s spread over bottom of channel (4) 15 Parasites demolish power mast (9) 16 Electrical discharge in circular curve (3) 17 Revolutionary movement partly reduced dynamically (4) 18 Slope had displaced plant (8) 20 Sort of 12 that’s worshipped (4) 21 Youngsters disliked nuts student brought out (7) 22 Get hard place to drive and place to relax (6) 24 Awards European with large corporation (5) 26 The whole play or a scene? (5) 27 Gong’s not on time (4)

NEED A CLUE? Text TIP to 65700 to receive FOUR answers to today’s crossword, or call 0901 293 6236. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today’s clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.

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 16,534, 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 datestamped 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 56.