Lancashire moved six points clear at the top of the LV County Championship after they polished off Warwickshire by nine wickets at Old Trafford.

The Red Rose county completed their fifth win of the Division One campaign when openers Mark Chilton and Paul Horton chased down a second innings target of 68.

Lancashire are now ahead of closest rivals Sussex after the south coast county's defeat against Durham.

If captain Chilton and company can beat mid-table Surrey at The Oval, starting next Wednesday, they will be confirmed as county champions for the first time since 1934.

Warwickshire began the third day on 125-2 - still 80 runs behind in the second innings. Ian Westwood had opened up with 50 as Jonathan Trott resumed on 42 not out.

They showed a good deal of fight in the afternoon and evening sessions of day two but when Trott was trapped lbw by Glen Chapple - who actually left the field as a precaution after pulling up midway through his spell - in just the third over of the day, the writing was pretty much on the wall.

Trott went without adding to his overnight score before Oliver Newby bowled Luke Parker, Dominic Cork (2- 19) removed Tim Ambrose and Ant Botha and Chapple picked up his second by forcing Heath Streak to edge behind.

That left the visitors 212-7 as all-rounder Alex Loudon tried his best to rescue the situation with a useful half-century.

But pace king Sajid Mahmood polished off the innings for 272 by bowling Loudon and James Anyon in the same over.

Neil Carter then had Paul Horton caught behind by Tim Ambrose but home skipper Chilton (20) was helped along by Steven Croft (22) to comfortably chase down the total inside 23 overs.