Durham have moved 17 points clear at the top of the County Championship table after beating previous leaders Lancashire by an innings and 125 runs at Chester-le-Street.

After also beating Worcestershire and Warwickshire by an innings, it was 2008 and 2009 champions Durham's third successive haul of the maximum of 24 points.

Even the blow of losing Ben Stokes for six to eight weeks with his finger injury was cushioned by the news that Paul Collingwood was ready to return in tomorrow's Twenty20 opener at home to Warwickshire.

Having retired from Test cricket, Collingwood has declared himself keen to focus on all types of cricket for Durham after recovering from the knee operation he underwent after the World Cup.

Ian Blackwell wrapped up the Lancashire tail today, finishing with four for 34 as the visitors were dismissed for 158 after winning five of their first six games.

Resuming on 69 for three, they survived for almost an hour without losing a wicket. But once Mark Chilton had gone for 25 there was little resistance and several batsmen surrendered tamely to Blackwell.

The fourth and fifth wickets went down with the total on 94. Chilton pushed forward and edged Mitch Claydon to first slip, then nightwatchman Gary Keedy swung across the line and was bowled by Blackwell.

Graham Onions picked up his third wicket of the innings by pinning Steven Croft lbw with a full-length swinger.

Gareth Cross was bowled when he sat back to cut a ball from Blackwell which was too full for the shot, then Tom Smith was caught at slip off bat and pad attempting a sweep off the left-arm spinner.

Having had Glen Chapple caught at third man in the first innings, Claydon posted a man on the backward-point boundary, where Dale Benkenstein held the catch when the visiting captain again slashed at a very short ball.

Finally Blackwell turned one through left-hander Kyle Hogg's forward push to bowl him, the last seven wickets falling for just 54 runs.