CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,936

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 16,936, 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 68.

ACROSS

1 Knock back topclass beer in ceremonial attire (7) 5 African state facing

church hostility (6) 9 Greek cathedral city retains atmosphere to a large extent (7) 10 Disparage what skiers do (3,4) 11 Drink two or three at first (3) 12 Notice a peer lodging

money transfer (6,5) 13 Almost white, like

female bird (5) 14 Inedible sweet? (9) 16 Fleece a turbulent star Hanks briefly trained (9) 17 Compare what grows on trees, some may say (5) 19 Marcel’s been ordered to reveal correspondence (11) 22 Individual running to limit weight (3) 23 Slug man on board (7) 24 Wide Silver Shadow? It flies! (7) 26 Edited streak in Blade Runner? (6) 27 Good Queen absorbs brief plan on top of that (7)

DOWN

1 Laser display perhaps worries great old volunteers (7) 2 Her straight wake varies, frightening swimmer? (5,5,5) 3 Officer welcomes old

husband of salty wife? (3) 4 Huge crack derived

from baby’s swings (5) 5 It’s normal to change what may be admitted in confession (6,3) 6 Words used during

telling-off (5) 7 Could erratic migrant settle in such a fantastic realm? (5-6-4) 8 Stylish attempt to seal a container that’s full after holiday? (2-4) 12 Letters found in personal

assistant’s patrol car (5) 14 Improve comfort of quiet

house in province (9) 15 Appreciate university

during depression (5) 16 Scrape off a

scruffy beard (6) 18 Puzzle to do with place

in North America (7) 20 Picked up small

child’s energy (5) 21 Muslim prince was

nearly put in nick (5) 25 Goats regularly

produce fuel (3)

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.