CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 17,233

FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending the completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 17,233, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be date-stamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. Terms apply, see Page 52. ACROSS 6 In a disorganised state, like varied retail products? (3,4,3,4) 9 Appeal by chap retaining power in small Asian boat (6) 10 Temporarily stops outlay in second Western country (8) 11 Foe heard to wander in feature with temples? (8) 13 Duo set for change getting deposed? (6) 15 Popular noise around a restaurant (6) 17 Refrain from going into retirement? (4,2) 19 Incompetent group in brief fall of rain (6) 20 Lively friend in a Northern Ireland department (8) 22 Feed Greek sadly missing fine ricebased dish (8) 24 Start to protest about short cut in sleeveless garment (6) 26 Noble look for a helmet possibly (4,2,3,5) DOWN 1 American chose nervously English dish (8,6) 2 Suddenly become angry following insolence (4) 3 A site for an event in tree-lined road (6) 4 Gradually stop using house apt to crumble (5,3) 5 Feature of a supermarket, it’s said, in offshore community (4) 7 Live in middle of area with group of players (6) 8 Some helped pool to develop in care facility (3,7,4) 12 Supply objective over centre of town (5) 14 First person among elevated primates in reddish-brown colour (5) 16 Publicise skill in fighters and the like? (8) 18 Man in unusually great hotel (6) 21 Pass on this person’s role (6) 23 Clothing put in bag, arbitrarily (4) 25 Number associated with a hard biblical figure (4)