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 1014, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries must arrive by Friday, September 24 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on October 10 from the first correct entry drawn.

Winner of Bare Bones No 1011: T. Brittain, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

Across

1 School head was concerned and frightened 5 Arrive with her empty shiny coat 10 Heard advice from local authority 11 Problem with woman is disease 12 Be defeated, even without starting 13 Concerning a boxing match 14 Twist key conclusion 15 Very arduous, holding length 17 Following hers about is new 18 Landowner doesn’t finish hideaway 22 Insect takes fruit to be food 23 Listener with old money to put aside 24 Rise when about to finish 25 Piece of advice – appeal is not having a drink

Down

2 Friends much altered by society 3 Joke about missing instrument of torture 4 Considered German domain freed 5 Cautious about using metric cups 6 Bore about dress 7 Came leering about commotion 8 Stolen goods outside – summon unknown rascal 9 Deliver rest, say, as a means to stop 16 Arid order on small attacks 19 Use a shroud, by the sound of it 20 Present in the rehearsal 21 Doctor seeing work decrease