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 964, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries must arrive by Friday, October 9 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on October 25 from the first correct entry drawn.

Winner of Bare Bones No 961: Steven Leigh, of Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Across

1 Subdivision of

British farm

4 Coniferous tree is well groomed

9 Reactionary did play with instrument outside 12 Delight worker behind space next to church 14 Annoy Algarve’s last couple with kiss

15 Relish bringing large animal round

16 Daily pressure on pear production

17 Old lady removed centre behind bush 18 Knock with hesitation for a candle

20 Bully queen, then cringe 22 Enthusiast from

Brazil, say

23 I’m not playing, having left one form of poker (Two words, hyphenated) 25 Twist round English book on drink

27 Principal layout of petals 28 Turn wives off student Down

2 Raid carried out by old medium

3 Resting place in Scotland

5 Hoping to conceal secret number

6 Caught the French politician in vice

7 Tires, sending note on some paving

8 Drifter is crazy to like Chinese food (Two words, hyphenated) 10 Temporary, during winter improvements 11 Obvious I have overcome slight damage 12 Discharge former spouse onto island 13 Imitation of ape and feline

19 Scheme involves one aviator

21 Complain when I change 24 Sick of villagers

26 Won over for the present