NAME

ADDRESS

TOWN

POSTCODE

PHONE NUMBER

The first correct entry drawn will receive a copy of Chambers Crossword Dictionary; two runners-up will receive a copy of an anthology of puzzles from the Chambers range. Write your name and contact details in the space provided and send to: Listener Crossword No 3991, 63 Green Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 6HE, to arrive by July 31.

Solvers will see where Dipper has used cut flowers -- and where he hasn't, he's created alternative arrangements. Chambers Dictionary (2003) is the primary reference.

ACROSS
1 Compère introducing desperate character before turning on old hoofer (12, two words)
8 A cloudy gas comes about naturally (7)
11 Foregoing any working, city certainly ill-prepared for standing charges (17, two words)
13 Private eye putting an end to impostor in public school (9)
14 Spoil starter for supper -- and in this sense, sweets (12)
16 Fuel leaking from broken engine (8)
17 Surrounded by unending fear is a terrible place to be (12, two words)
19 Wastrels investing new money in foreign capital -- and old money follows (12)
21 Rousing sound in alla cappella reverberating (9, two words)
22 What may influence judgement hard fellow made without one (10, two words)
24 Returning to beginning of exercise, swing to and fro (9)
25 Modestly -- and essentially -- calls for towel (7)
26 Container I would fill with old narcotic substance (11)
28 Actress missing opening of Hamlet in north-west state (9, two words)
31 Ring includes one soprano that's alarming (9)
33 Sort of hose novice hid in unfinished ditch during opening of garden (12, two words)
35 Frightened Welshman? (8)
38 A way of making a joint from a metal band containing carbon (10, two words)
40 Joyce, for one, had this -- she isn't upset without it about (9)
41 Iceland invading a minute country, becoming like Uncle Sam (15)
42 Half-buried but uninjured (9)
43 Somehow, he entertains without juggling these in the act (11, two words)

DOWN
1 Catch about a thousand in contest (4)
2 Parking on more ancient reclaimed land (6)
3 Less primitive nature -- unusually adroit (4)
4 Catholic, maybe, for the time being (5)
5 Discover half of tigers could be attached to keepers (7)
6 Most of marshy area concerned with producing rice wine (5)
7 Allow her to take two-handled drinking bowl (3)
8 It occurs in opera before king and emperor initially arrive (4)
9 Digestive fluid achieving a twenty-fold reduction in food in stomach (5)
10 Pole leaves secret police, being replaced by lieutenant's organised units (8)
12 Certain part of fish. It appears in Northern river (8)
15 Three-quarters of pig feed contains very good pinch of rock salt (6)
18 Promote professional standards of conduct; easy to take in one so upset (8)
19 Religion is hit by beginnings of independent secular movement (8)
20 Flattered old French artist in speech (6)
23 Danced and got entangled with end of maypole (7)
27 Poet losing heart in verse competition (6)
29 Broadcasting endlessly on radio channel (5)
30 Odd people making killings -- oddly, without difficulty (5)
32 When John from Hawick could be from Hanoi (5)
34 Knight, president and goddess (4)
36 Part of Ceylon, empty and uninhabited (4)
37 Flies pressman into Kyrgyzstan (4)
39 Five dollars is missing in the end (3)

Apology: We apologise for an error in the clue to 7dn in last week's puzzle (No 3990). It should have read: "Advanced Irish melody (3) and this correction was made to the online edition of the Listener crossword on July 22, 2008.

More information about Chambers books can be found at www.chambers.co.uk
A dedicated site for Listener puzzle fans can be found at www.listenercrossword.com

Explore Games & Puzzles

• Crossword

• Linkudo

• Sudoku

• Killer Sudoku

• Chess

• Bridge

• Crickler