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 957, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries must arrive by Friday, August 21 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on September 6 from the first correct entry drawn.

Winner of Bare Bones No 954: Philip Peaker, of Thongsbridge, West Yorkshire.

Across

1 At home, fellow may develop notoriety

4 Bear is shy about new victory dance, finally 10 Lee’s worried about impudence and round form 11 Ending in debauchery missing from French 12 Appear to join, by the sound of it

13 After having succeeded excessively, Penny got up

14 Run into offer for Martin, say

15 Large pile of the apples 16 Missile creates a right argument 17 Couple is a rip-off 21 Errand boy also heard a short way into book (Two words) 22 Condensed, if brine is involved (Two words) 23 Unusual origin almost includes large source of energy (Two words) 24 Seal audibly is a youngster

Down

1 Times change, and things

2 Dropped distorted angle – it used to be divine (Two words) 3 Sulk when doctor joins exercise

5 Strange to get second chances

6 Viola intent on organising an airing 7 Surrender and profit 8 Widescreen format – that takes some correspondence (Two words)

9 Citadel gets a harvest with different soil 15 Trendy river animal 18 Fire damage – time for restoration

19 Case of wearing tie around university 20 Honour your leader and comply