CROSSWORD NO 1,897 ★ £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 1,897,

PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries will be accepted until 11.59pm on Friday 22 March. 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: 0330 100 0601. Winners will be notified by phone within 14 days. Solution in two weeks.

ACROSS

6 Looking-glass (6)

8 Competitor least likely to win (8)

10 Town in

1 down (5)

11 Take up, absorb (6)

12 Urgent request (4)

13 Sport requiring a shuttlecock (9)

15 Loner who shuns company (7)

17 Local government district in 1 down (7)

19 Nashville is its capital (9)

22 Flower – the national emblem of England (4)

23 With Isleworth, this was a local government district in 1 down (6)

24 Indian fritter (5)

25 Anger while driving (4,4)

26 North African stew (6)

DOWN

1 Historic Home County (9)

2 Worshipped (6)

3 With Northwood, this was an urban district in 1 down (7)

4 This was a local government district in 1 down (8)

5 Remembrance Day flower (5)

7 Redeemed, restored to a good condition (13)

9 Rethinking (13)

14 19th-century prime minister (surname) (9)

16 Your daughter’s

husband (3-2-3)

18 This was an urban district in

1 down (7)

20 City-state in Ancient Greece (6)

21 County adjoining Cornwall (5)