Durham's attempt to lift themselves off the bottom of the First Division and record their first win of the Championship season was thwarted by a spirited Somerset side on the second day at Taunton.

Batsman puts his winter spin difficulties against Pakistan behind him to suggest he is ready for a glorious summer

Warwickshire 557-6 Lancashire 197 & 343-5 (Match drawn)

Warwickshire 557-6 dec Lancashire 197 & 122-3

Warwickshire 557-6 dec Lancashire 61-5

It is strange to think that in 12 days' time we will have completed a third of our Test matches for the summer. We've got three Tests against West Indies, the first of which was due to begin at Lord's today, and then three against South Africa later in the summer.

View From the Middle: I had a poor winter with the bat but I have not lost confidence in my ability

The detective in charge of an inquiry into the deaths of four firefighters in a warehouse blaze has defended a decision to hold three fire service managers in custody overnight during questioning.

The deaths of a man and child in a river tragedy have left a village in shock.

Two children were taken to hospital and a search has been launched for another child and an adult missing after an incident at a weir, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

From studying toads to liberating beavers, these enthusiasts show the human face of 'biophilia' in Britain

The Netherlands posted an impressive total of 239 for 6 in their first Clydesdale Bank Pro40 fixture of the season, against Gloucestershire yesterday. After losing the toss and being put in at Bristol, the Dutch reached their total thanks to Stephanus Myburgh's impressive 77, which featured 11 fours and two sixes, and Cameron Borgas's 38. Ed Young, who picked up 2 for 31, was the pick of Gloucestershire's bowlers.

Andrew Strauss eased a little closer to finding form ahead of the Test series against West Indies, although his 49 for Middlesex against Worcestershire at Lord's was not without incident.