Day three washed out at all three Midlands games

Play was called off for the day in Leicester just after 13:00 BST

Rain prevented any play on the third day of the County Championship games in Leicester, Birmingham and Derby.

The Division One game between Warwickshire and Essex at Edgbaston, and the matches in Division Two between leaders Leicestershire and Kent and Derbyshire against Glamorgan all suffered a second washout in three days.

The Foxes are chasing the title and raced to 459-7 dec on Tuesday to pick up five batting points with Kent ending the day on 17-0.

But with second-placed Glamorgan's match also affected by the rain and the Welsh county needing a win, a draw on the final day could be enough to secure Leicestershire first place to go with the promotion they secured last week.

The rain at the Uptonsteel County Ground in Leicester had relented by lunchtime, but the umpires decided that the outfield was too wet for any play, while a morning of rain also ruined the prospects of play at Edgbaston.

Essex, fifth in Division One, but only 14 points clear of relegation, reached 325-5 after 104 overs in what play was possible with the Bears, picking up two batting points as they edged closer to the draw that will secure another season of top-flight cricket.

Play had been due to start at 15:00 BST in Derby after passing an inspection, but the rain returned, causing the day to be abandoned.

The home side are 17-0 in reply to Glamorgan's 259, but with the match now almost certainly heading for a draw.

And with Middlesex's game at Lancashire also well behind because of bad weather, a draw could be enough for Glamorgan to secure promotion and a return to Division One for the first time in 20 years.