RAIN forced a premature end to the action at Old Trafford with Kent on 15 without loss after just 6.3 overs having lost the toss against Lancashire.

David Fulton had reached seven without loss while Rob Key, in his first championship innings since June 12, survived two leg before shouts from Peter Martin to reach eight.

Within 20 minutes of the players running from the field for an early lunch the heavens opened again leaving the ground under water with a huge lake at the Brian Statham End of the ground.

Umpires Vanburn Holder and Ian Gould side-stepped the puddles to inspect the outfield at 2.15pm and decided that no more play would be possible on Tuesday.

Earlier, the visitors made two changes to the side that drew with Surrey, Key replacing the injured Michael Bevan while Amjad Khan came in for Rob Ferley.

Lancashire, who are captained by former Kent star Carl Hooper, named Danish Mongia as their second overseas player after Stuart Law failed a fitness test on an Achilles strain.