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 1099, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries must arrive by Friday, May 19 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on June 4 from the first correct entry drawn.

Winner of Bare Bones No 1096: C Causer, of Widley, Hampshire.

Across

1 Daisy, say, might produce peaceful ideas (Two words)

9 Look after

the intellect

10 Earth didn’t start as

a circular shape

11 Lip starts to be

repulsive in moustache 12 Insured socialist

man first

13 File left inside for

every thief

14 Admit being against

iron ship

17 Thespian has

keys to lock 21 Dread fare changes

22 Gone off holding my

first garden feature

23 Maid exchanged with a

similar attendant

24 Roamers tell about

flattening device

Down

2 Convenience initially showing chivalrous attitude (Two words)

3 Wife gets terribly sore that’s not so good

4 Rubbish about

universal defeat

5 Penny playing role outside that’s not as recent

6 Joint musical requires a lot of effort (Two words) 7 Lois running

to the store

8 Cow is educated

outside, intelligent

15 Finished six deliveries 16 In the morning, soldiers return

Greek character

18 Caught spool

in basket

19 Playground item has

no left or right, say

20 Daughter rings rector,

making entrance