LANCASHIRE'S slim hopes of winning their first outright Championship since 1930 were on the line today.

They needed to pile up a big score against Somerset, avoid a points penalty for the state of the Old Trafford pitch -- and finally for rain to deny Surrey at the Oval.

Lancashire were already well on top against Somerset at Old Trafford after skittling the visitors for 132, with four wickets for Glen Chapple and three for Mike Smethurst.

Mike Atherton then steering them into a first innings lead despite another stoppage becuause of the low sun at the Stretford End yesterday evening.

But with Championship leaders Surrey picking up maximum bonus points against Durham at the Oval, Lancashire needed to score at least 350 to stay in touch after starting the game 19 points behind the Londoners.

If Surrey beat Durham today, the title race will be as good as over -- and definitely over if Lanashire fail to score 400.

But rain held up Adam Hollioake's team yesterday and with more rain forecast for the south today, they could be restricted to 12 points for a draw -- which would keep the race alive until the last game of the season between Lancashire and Surrey at Old Trafford next week.

The big threat to that calculation is the English Cricket Board's pitch liaison officer Mike Denness. The former Kent, Essex and England opener has been responsible for each of the three points deductions this season -- at Derby, Scarborough last week and also Southgate, when Middlesex later had the points rewarded on appeal.

Denness was planning further meetings with Old Trafford groundsman Peter Marron and the two captains today and has called in a panel from Lord's.

Coach Bobby Simpson said: "It would be nice if it rained at The Oval. That would be justice in some ways because we have been much more affected by rain than they have this season."

It took Lancashire less than 50 overs to bowl out Somerset after Warren Hegg had won the toss and put them in, and there was some variable bounce.

But it was mostly swing which undid Somerset, skilfully exploited by Chapple, Smethurst and Peter Martin.

Smethurst claimed three of the first five wickets, including Somerset's Aussie skipper Jamie Cox for 53, to take his tally of first class wickets in Chapple then took over to claim four for 34, with Chris Schofield continuing his encouraging finish to the season with two for four in 5.4 overs.

Leicestershire snatched a crucial National League win over Worcestershire in a thrilling game at Grace Road to give themselves a relegation lifeline but condemn Lancashire to relegation.