BARE BONES

WIN A COLLINS ENGLISH DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS SET, AND A BRADFORD’S CROSSWORD SOLVER’S DICTIONARY

Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have to complete the grid – numbers and squares – as well. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a fourway symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away. There is a prize of a Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus set, and a Bradford’s Crossword Solver’s Dictionary. Send your solution to: Bare Bones Puzzle No 913, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries must arrive by Friday, October 18 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on November 3 from the first correct entry drawn. Winner of Bare Bones No 910: Norma Bowe, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Across

7 Chap joins another back in the doghouse 8 Kitty has stolen first dish 11 A Catholic peer reveals their story 12 Insipid article I came to broadcast 13 Now leaving with a creature of the night 15 Import payment is a moral obligation 16 Part found in community 18 Hope gets smaller, by a nose 21 Country has answers about solving crime 22 Herbal medicine makes everyone fall into line, we hear 23 Finally finds time after book (Two words) 24 Passing me is wrong of French, for a start

Down

1 Create a type assembled in agreement (Two words) 2 Follow directions and prosecute 3 Animated character shows a heavenly body 4 Hols improved with a lot of fish 5 Fastening parts the other way round 6 Sound judgment is feeling green, initially (Two words) 9 Group noticed it’s cutting edge (Two words) 10 Hasten to sink 14 Conflict coming from new arguments 17 City gent has one left 18 Finished with a type of Italian food 19 Returning, say, taking road for some distance 20 Collapse as shins start swelling