Despite trying several service providers, I have not been happy with the consistency of text message clues getting through – for some reason the service is nowhere near as good as previous TXT4Ts. To be fair to all, I can’t send out any more clues until this is sorted out to my satisfaction.

So here’s what I propose to do…

All of the clues so far will be posted on the website by the end of this evening, so that everyone is up to date.

Over the weekend I will carry out some tests, so that the service is as reliable as realistically possible by Monday.

Assuming that the regions have not been won by then…

There will be 5 clues sent out Monday to Friday next week, between 1300 and 1330, so that you know exactly when a clue will arrive (some of the weirdly timed clues last week were just me being naughty). The clues will revert to the old TXT4T style, i.e. they will all need newspapers to solve and will result in a single key word that helps to identify the location of the treasure.

If the regions are not won by FRIDAY midnight, clues will be sent out every 4 hours until the region is won. You will not need a newspaper to solve those clues.

Another thing to clarify is that the winner of the golden apple will not get the prize by chance! At the close of TXT4T3, all regional winners will be sent a final treasure hunt (based in a region convenient for all). The winner of this ‘grand final’ will get the golden apple, the runners-up will receive the brooches.

I hope that this solution is acceptable to all.

I wish you continued happy hunting!

Shaun