HUNDREDS of people entered The Northern Echo's Giant Champagne Christmas Crossword but the first correct entry to be drawn out of the hat belonged to Malcolm Dunstone, a retired local government officer from Darlington.

"It was quite a challenge and took five or six days," he said. The crossword is believed to be the largest published in a newspaper in the country.

"In previous years we took it round to Darlington cricket club and got help there, but this year we had a family Christmas and they all helped – my wife, Sheila, son Nick, daughter Esther and son-in-law Adam.

"It was a family affair – in fact, Esther and Adam came specially from Kuala Lumpur for the crossword!"

Mr Dunstone, a former Liberal Democrat councillor, worked in local government in Watford before retiring to Darlington in 2000. He is captain of the seniors at Blackwell Grange Golf Club.

He wins a magnum of champagne, and follows on from last year's winner, Stephanie Robson, of Stanhope.

THE SOLUTIONS

Across: 2. Air raid, 7. Syringa, 12. Goulash, 17. Insipid, 22. Wins, 23. Exact, 24. Curve, 25. Agnes, 26. Ills, 27. Panacea, 28. Algebra, 29. Nonagon, 30. Inroads, 31. Fees, 33. Loyal, 36. Douse, 37. Dress, 39. Cusp, 42. Class, 44. Test case, 45. Strands, 47. Likes, 49. Toddle, 50. Sleigh, 51. Muse, 54. Erosion, 56. Sprint, 57. Lazybones, 60. Astraddle, 63. Gravel, 65. Create, 66. Err, 68. Seethe, 70. Awhile, 71. Set up, 72. Tapsters, 76. Respighi, 79. Slain, 80. Ever, 83. Piles, 85. Ingle, 86. Angst, 89. Mews, 91. Outstay, 92. Soaking, 93. Tirades, 94. Rickety, 95. Moot, 96. Gaffe, 97. Needy, 98. Tutti, 99. Warn, 100. Acronym, 101. Speckle, 105. Prepare, 109. Torpedo, 110. Yurt, 113. OTT, 115. Gee, 116. Isle, 118. Envelope, 120. Rowan, 121. Robin, 122. Cladding, 123. Delphi, 124. Tight, 125. Elite, 126. Tipple, 127. Jeer, 128. Bag, 129. Poser, 130. Ran, 131. Budge, 132. Yap, 133. Bogy, 134. Embryo, 136. Omaha, 137. Astor, 138. Galore, 140. Closely, 143. Droll, 145. Dud, 146. Educe, 148. Bazaars, 152. Oops, 153. Spades, 155. Possess, 158. Earldom, 161. Radium, 164. Ugli, 165. Camel, 168. Tibia, 170. Bantam, 171. Eelworm, 174. Suffer, 175. Dotcom, 176. Admires, 179. Emigré, 180. Vamp, 181. Ink, 182. Ops, 183. Spun, 184. Niche, 186. Adequate, 188. Departed, 189. Eject, 191. Amos, 194. Typos, 195. Smart, 196. Blimp, 197. Tics, 199. Quite, 200. Sadder, 202. Medico, 203. Gifted, 206. Nervously, 209. Digitalis, 210. Xenophobia, 213. Indus, 215. Curie, 216. Open secret, 221. Aerialist, 224. Strenuous, 227. Futile, 228. Ethics, 229. Tirana, 230. Aural, 232. Ages, 233. Draws, 234. Sarky, 236. Tulip, 238. Damp, 240. Tutor, 241. Tasteful, 242. Eeriness, 243. Binge, 244. Iced, 247. Ltd, 249. Amp, 251. Wide, 253. Artful, 255. Reliant, 257. Chorus, 258. Preach, 259. Mediate, 261. Raffle, 263. Mogul, 264. U-boat, 265. Kerb, 268. Bowels, 270. Partner, 274. Typeset, 278. Helots, 279. Pace, 281. Snorkel, 282. Plane, 283. Emu, 284. Heave, 285. Seminar, 286. Sequel, 288. Carve, 289. Guano, 290. Answer, 293. Warm, 294. Sit, 295. Of age, 296. Lob, 297. Pleat, 298. Elm, 300. Know, 301. Rat-tat, 302. Inane, 303. Oxbow, 304. Hoop-la, 305. Escapade, 307. Crisp, 308. Ozone, 309. Criteria, 310. Sash, 312. Opt, 314. Try, 316. Nest, 319. Thiamin, 320. Fissure, 324. Asunder, 328. Eminent, 330. Mali, 331. Amaze, 332. Nonet, 333. Alarm, 334. Into, 335. Olivier, 336. Inflect, 337. Imbibed, 338. Pinhole, 339. Bean, 341. Essen, 344. Union, 345. Obeli, 348. Dram, 351. Mewed, 353. Starship, 355. Gangrene, 357. Crier, 359. Drones, 360. Docket, 361. Eel, 363. Lordly, 364. Region, 365. Euphrates, 368. Apostolic, 371. Evades, 373. Algiers, 374. Saga, 376. Hold up, 378. Sunset, 379. Allay, 380. Elegant, 384. Solitude, 387. Dotes, 388. Slop, 391. Smell, 393. Rusks, 394. Aspic, 397. Peer, 399. Epithet, 400. Entwine, 401. Itchier, 402. Uppsala, 403. Leas, 404. Ousts, 405. Apron, 406. Toner, 407. Stew, 408. Oceania, 409. Seaweed, 410. Godless, 411. Torrent.

Down: 1. Fine, 2. Asps, 3. Rankle, 4. Access, 5. Deal, 6. Vary, 7. Stale, 8. Rightly, 9. Nubia, 10. Academe, 11. Frauds, 12. Genes, 13. Ulnar, 14. Argon, 15. Handsel, 16. Knee, 17. Isis, 18. Sprain, 19. Phases, 20. Disc, 21. Plus, 31. Fatigue, 32. Endgame, 34. Origami, 35. Athlete, 38. Sisters, 40. Utilise, 41. Potters, 42. Clues, 43. Slurp, 46. A la, 47. Lochs, 48. Spawn, 52. Use, 53. Ear, 55. Resin, 58. Zap, 59. Obelisk, 61. Resurge, 62. Dig, 64. Letter bomb, 65. Cutting edge, 67. Ragged, 69. Electric eye, 70. Aide-de-camp, 73. Asses, 74. Shake, 75. Signet, 76. Retype, 77. India, 78. Haste, 81. Violoncello, 82. Rota, 83. Pygmy, 84. Lifer, 87. Gates, 88. Trite, 89. My word, 90. Working Girl, 102. Pawnshop, 103. Controls, 104. Long wave, 106. Resistor, 107. Pure-bred, 108. Rubidium, 111. Upper, 112. Tripods, 114. Tetrads, 115. Grenade, 116. Integer, 117. Lapel, 119. Egress, 133. Beau, 135. Maple, 139. Route, 140. Combine, 141. Open, 142. Llama, 144. Loose ends, 147. Dot matrix, 149. Adieu, 150. Agog, 151. Silent, 153. Seep, 154. Dawn, 156. Suffused, 157. Sweats, 159. Avocet, 160. Lactates, 162. Drip, 163. Miss, 165. Caveat, 166. Embassy, 167. Band-box, 169. Amnesiac, 172. Lift, 173. Okapis, 177. Motion, 178. RSVP, 185. Coup d'état, 187. Empirical, 188. Dreamlike, 190. Entertain, 192. Men, 193. Shrines, 197. Twofold, 198. CGI, 201. Rites, 202. Midst, 204. Duel, 205. Piaf, 207. Owe, 208. Lye, 211. Eat, 212. Pun, 214. Solarium, 217. Peg, 218. Rwanda, 219. Testate, 220. Physician, 221. Acted out, 222. Titivate, 223. Page Three, 224. Satsuma, 225. Reload, 226. Sam, 231. Upbeat, 233. Dill, 234. Suture, 235. Yearly, 237. Papa, 239. Demeter, 240. Thanks, 245. Clone, 246. Drub, 248. Tide, 250. Mill, 251. Webs, 252. Drake, 254. Taro, 256. Elope, 260. Tutee, 262. Flan, 266. Encapsulate, 267. Brim, 269. Splotch, 270. Paganini, 271. Receipts, 272. Narrator, 273. Re-elect, 274. Tugboat, 275. Playboys, 276. Shopworn, 277. Take note, 278. Heathen, 279. Pickle, 280. Camomile tea, 286. Streamlined, 287. Ultra, 291. Shots, 292. Reactionary, 294. Stabilises, 299. Maiden over, 306. Action, 310. Snare, 311. Slabs, 313. Pent-up, 315. Rating, 317. Erase, 318. Tempi, 320. Feint, 321. Safer, 322. Urethra, 323. Online, 325. Unbends, 326. Debar, 327. Radon, 329. Tied, 339. Badgers, 340. Avocado, 342. Sikhism, 343. Ester, 346. Belches, 347. Lorelei, 349. Reissue, 350. Minster, 351. Medea, 352. Doily, 354. Alp, 356. Ell, 357. Cloud, 358. Rebus, 361. Ess, 362. Lag, 366. Useless, 367. Rig, 369. Passing, 370. Outside, 372. Sluice, 373. Aachen, 375. Absorb, 377. Popper, 378. Senate, 381. Extra, 382. Alike, 383. Tread, 385. Lucid, 386. Darts, 389. Lieu, 390. Peso, 391. Stoa, 392. East, 395. Puny, 396. Curt, 397. Past, 398. Ewer.