SKELETON

Have double the fun with this puzzle: you’ve got to fill in the answers and the black squares! We’ve given you the bare bones to start and it will help you to know that the black squares in the finished grid form a symmetrical pattern.

ACROSS

1 Observe

4 Harm or weaken

9 Person who snares animals for their fur

10 Smart

11 Hand’s width

12 Power to withstand fatigue

14 Immune or absolved

16 Endearing touch

19 Venetian craft

21 Enclosure, pen

23 Judicial enquiry

24 Hard part of the lower face

25 Dismal

26 Shabby with loose threads

DOWN

1 Minim, eg

2 Slog, trudge

3 Cockerel bred for eating

5 Make-up for the lashes

6 Defence alleging

a suspect was elsewhere

7 Practise (a play)

8 Teenage infatuation

13 Adjusted to reflect importance by value or proportion

15 Lurker

17 Protection of the environment

18 Dixieland instrument

20 Cacophony

21 Shrink back

22 Body part containing the eyes