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 four-way 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 1038, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries must arrive by Friday, March 11 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on March 27 from the first correct entry drawn.

Winner of Bare Bones No 1035: Grace Scott, of Bridge of Earn, Perthshire.

Across

1 Deliver, then fall asleep (Two words)

5 Discharge sailor with performing voles

9 New route getting silver causes indignation

10 Perplex prisoner with safety device

12 Incline to be thin

13 Avoid duel, rewriting the end

14 Musical pets

15 Rely on a financial institution

17 Without a sign of a mathematician

19 Swine finds nothing in pub

21 Dog promises to be inquisitive

22 Important Tory dispersed prejudice

23 Esteemed socialist always included

24 Kiss his ingredients when hungry

Down

2 Galvanise stratagem to get oxygen

3 Parking fine solution is cutting edge (Two words)

4 Musical form starts to feel useless – giving up etude

6 Piece about missing European man

7 Branch to obstruct building (Two words)

8 Call six to be seated

11 Odd, city pursuing enjoyment

16 Every character by river is blue

17 Universal victory putting graduate first in shade

18 Steal cuff

20 Fashion so far for large hairdos