Lancashire tonight escaped punishment over the state of the pitch at Blackpool for the LV County Championship Division One match against Durham.

The home side claimed their fourth LV Division One County Championship win of 2007 earlier today as a result of overcoming fellow title contenders Durham by seven wickets inside two days.

An ECB pitch panel consisting of Tony Pigott, Philip Sharp and Chris Wood carried out a formal pitch inspection after the match and have announced that "no further action is required".

The inspection was called at the close of play yesterday after 18 wickets fell in three sessions.

Lancashire head groundsman Peter Marron had no concerns over the state of the Stanley Park pitch.

He said: "It looks as good a wicket as we have ever had here.

"It is rock hard, it has a good grass covering on it and it is probably the cracks at the far end (South End) getting a little bit bigger than in previous years that is causing bother.

"The pitch was relayed after everybody fell asleep during the Kent game (in 2003) and we have had two games against Worcestershire and Warwickshire on it since with no problems.

"The groundsmen here at Blackpool has done a fine job and we couldn't have asked for more from them."

The verdict means Lancashire retain the 17 points and Durham three from this fixture. Lancashire have the same amount of points as third-placed Hampshire with two games left.

Stuart Law's unbeaten 82 helped to chase down a testing 169 after tea on the second day after Glen Chapple's three for 33 had helped bowl the visitors out for 185 in their second innings and complete his own match figures of 10 wickets for 86 runs.