Persistent rain prevented any play on day one of the LV County Championship Second Division clash between Essex and Northamptonshire at Chelmsford.

It left third-placed Essex the more frustrated of the two sides, with the hosts seeking to make up ground on their opponents who arrived holding a 12-point advantage in the quest to join Kent in gaining promotion to Division One next season in what is the penultimate match of the season in the competition for both clubs.

The weather had already forced an early lunch before the rain finally ceased at 2.30pm.

That allowed groundsman Stuart Kerrison and his industrious team to remove the copious amount of covers and commence mopping-up operations and at 3.30pm umpires Barry Dudleston and Nigel Cowley were able to carry out an inspection.

The outcome was an intention to toss-up half an hour later with a view to a start at 4.30 pm. but then the rain returned to dash hopes of a start and at 4pm play was formally called off for the day.