Crossword

No 1,517

£500 TO BE WON

TO ENTER Complete the crossword and count how many times the letter ‘A’ appears in the grid. Text YOU followed by a space, your answer (the number of ‘A’s) and name to 65700, eg, YOU 9 Sue Smith. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network rate. Or telephone 0905 652 2141 and leave your answer and details. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Or post your entry to YOU Crossword No 1,517, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries will be accepted until 11.59pm on Friday 25 November. One random winner from all correct entries will win £250 and five runners-up will win £50 each. If you enter after the closing date you will not be included but may still be charged. Phone and text helpline: 0808 272 0808. Winners will be notified by phone within 14 days. Solution in two weeks.

ACROSS

8 Participate, join (4,4) 9 Unused, eg, clothes in pristine condition (6) 10 Sweet treat in Copenhagen? (6,6) 11 ______ tunnel syndrome: condition of the wrist and hand (6) 12 Calm, peace, stillness (8) 14 (and 15 across, 5 down, 13 down) Proverb suggesting that nothing is achieved by empty promises or flattery (4,5,6,2,8) 15 See 14 across 17 Sport played on horseback (4) 19 Fortitude, toughness (8) 23 Dull (6) 24 Comfortingly (12) 25 Currant-filled cake for a Goon Show character? (6) 26 Murmurs (8)

DOWN

1 Dutch exotic dancer, executed for spying for the Germans in the First World War (4,4) 2 Half of the terrestrial globe (10) 3 The movement of money into and out of a business (4,4) 4 Takes, pilfers, purloins (6) 5 See 14 across 6 Not at home (4) 7 Noah’s landfall; Turkey’s tallest peak (6) 13 See 14 across 16 Leafy outskirts of the city, or the life and customs of the people living there (8) 18 Person who owns and leases property (8) 20 (and 22 down) Proverb suggesting that everyone is entitled to choose for themselves (2,4,3,3) 21 Birthplace of Solidarity (6) 22 See 20 down 24 Part in a play (4)