CLOSE: Lancashire 131-5 (56.1)

All over for the day, the umpires having called it off at 4.45pm. The rain has eased off and as I write Glenn Chapple is doing some forlorn laps of the OT outfield. Let's hope for better weather tomorrow. I'll be back then with further updates.

Lancs 131-5 Rain stopped play

Still raining and the word from the umps is that they will be calling this off at 4.45pm. No breaks in the clouds and the forecast rain looks to have set in now. Been a good day for Sussex though, especially after they lost the toss.

WICKET: Lancs 131-5 (56.1)

Chilton goes for 21 and it's a second wicket for Smith. He was fishing outside off stump and edged low to slip where Yardy took a good catch. Du Plessis is 10 but the light has detoriarated and they have just gone off. We'll probably have an early tea now.

Lancs 118-4 (48.5)

Back again with just four overs lost but it's still very gloomy so spin on at both ends. That's no bad thing though: Chawla into his 13th over and going at two an over while Rayner's confidence is up after that early wicket and he is bowling with nice changes of pace. Some spin for him as well on the ground where he took five wickets last season. Chilton 17, Du Plessis 6.

WICKET: Lancs 105-4 (43.2)

Bonus wicket for Sussex and Rayner has struck with his second ball. Loye came down the pitch aiming over long on but it turned and he ended up giving Chawla catching practice at backwards point. 58 from 127 balls with 11 fours. Very dark now and it's spin at both ends with Chawla coming on for Smith. Chilton is 10 not out but the rain has just started again so they have gone off.

Lancs 92-3 (38)

Loye's reached his 50 with his ninth boundary, driven through the off side when Smith, who has just returned in place of Collymore, overpitched. He's faced 116 balls so far. Chilton is 6. Still Chawla at the Brian Statham end.

Lancs 72-3 (30)

Ten minute stoppage and we're back with Chawla about to bowl his fifth over. Loye 38 and Chilton off the mark with a single.

Lancs 71-2 (28)

New spell for Collymore as we resume after lunch. But just the one over bowled and it has just started to rain, as forecast. Very cloudy to my right which is the prevailing direction. Hopefully it's just a shower but it does look ominous. No runs added so it's Loye on 38 and Chilton yet to score.

LUNCH: Lancs 77-3 (27)

Slightly shortened first session but a good one for Sussex. Disciplined seam bowling and three overs from Chawla, two of them maidens. Loye 38, Chilton 0 at the interval.

WICKET: Lancs 77-3 (27)

That's a big wicket. Laxman's gone for 6. Smith has been tempting him with consistent away-swingers but he's just nipped that one back off the seam and Laxman is stone dead lbw for six. Clever bowling by Smith, he's improved so much as a cricketer this season. Loye 38 and Mark Chilton is the new batsman.

Lancs 67-2 (23)

Just had Chawla's first over after he replaced RMJ at the Brian Statham End. Loye played one horrible wipe at a leg break he thought was the wrong 'un and missed it completely. Loye is 38 and Laxman 4. Smith continuing at the Stretford End in bright sunshine.

WICKET: Lancs 50-2 (18)

Success for RMJ. He's bowled a consistent line just outside off stump and that ball also bounced, Sutton had to play at it and edged to second slip where Rayner took a good catch. Loye is 25 and the new batsman is VVS Laxman.

Lancs 42-1 (17)

Sutton 17, Loye 18. Bowling change with Smith replacing Collymore and already getting some good shape away from the right-handers. Sun is trying to poke through the clouds at the moment but rain is forecast later today. Still RMJ, now into his eighth over. Wonder when we'll see Chawla?

Lancs 17-1 (7)

Swing for both opening bowlers. Collymore can claim Horton as his rabbit. He got him out twice at Hove back in April. That game seems a long time ago now! Must of course congratulate Joe Gatting who is making his Championship debut, he's perched under the lid at short leg as I write. After his 99* at Scarborough it was an obvious pick when Nash failed to recover from his ankle injury. He's on the card to open but my hunch is that Hopkinson will go in with Yardy with Gatting at No.6. We'll see. Loye 4, Sutton 6 here.

WICKET: Lancs 10-1 (5)

Horton goes for 6, caught at a comfy height by Yardy at slip pushing at Collymore's outswinger. Sutton is 4 not out and the new batsman is Mal Loye.

Lancs 4-0 (1)

Paul Horton off the mark with a boundary down to third man after he thick-edged wide of Joyce at gully. Luke Sutton is opening with him - Lancashire's fourth different opening pair in the last four games. What's wrong with Loye or Chilton opening I wonder? RMJ taking the new ball at the Brian Statham end.

Good morning from Old Trafford and welcome to the first day of Sussex's Championship match against Lancashire.

We will be starting slightly later at 10.45am and using the pitch they were due to stage last night's abandoned T20 international on. No problems with run-ups for county bowlers obviously.

You probably know the headline team news for Sussex by now. Piyush Chawla is back for his second stint with the county, replacing Yasir Arafat. Arafat is still here while his visa for the Champions League is sorted out.

With two of their remaining games at Hove Chawla's return could be the difference between staying in division one and being relegated. Would be interested to get your thoughts. Remember this is an interactive service so leave your comments below.

Lancashire have won the toss and will bat first.

Lancashire: Horton, Loye, Chilton, Laxman, Du Plessis, Sutton, Chapple, Hogg, Mahmood, Newby, Keedy.

Sussex: Yardy, Hopkinson, Joyce, Goodwin, Gatting, Smith, Hodd, Martin-Jenkins, Chawla, Rayner, Collymore.

The umpires are Neil Mallender and David Millns.