BARE BONES

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 777, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries must arrive by Friday, March 10 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on March 26 from the first correct entry drawn. Winner of Bare Bones No 774: Mrs J. Mouzouros, of London SW1P.

Across

1 Rival outlet wasted some light 9 Raid carried out without water 10 Follow a rough path 11 Dismissal is in the bag 12 Pastime left by a new orchestra 14 Agent allowed energy to be full 16 Make a speech at a location 18 Bishop to sort out getting church soup 21 Small insect of biting nature 22 Explosion can be a lot of fun 24 Fear going round Jason’s ship 25 Transporting good clarets in refrigeration (Two words)

Down

2 Promise to knock top off sill 3 Crate contains a rodent 4 Dave always included a form of meat 5 Old trainee has one part of dressing 6 Supporter of art gets new lease 7 Famous Scandinavian has a dog (Two words) 8 Stamp out, then encourage, a meat snack (Two words) 13 Beast of burden joins a ship 15 The golfer has a sense of worth 17 A trio is out of proportion 19 Informed about student jargon 20 Group of actors performing Cats 22 Starts to buckle in desperate attempt 23 Started with part of the tobacco