BOLTON'S tennis aces suffered a disastrous weekend representing Lancashire on their home patch in the Winter County Cup.

The men's team had packed their squad with no fewer than four local players as the competition made its first appearance at the Bolton Arena.

But they lost their title with defeats to Kent, Yorkshire and new champions Middlesex and, despite the efforts of John Lister, Craig Edmondson, Simon Roberts and Andrew Davies, dropped out of the top division after finishing bottom.

The ladies team, featuring Bury's Lisa Cartwright, also slumped to the foot of Division One and subsequent relegation after defeats to Surrey, Warwickshire and champions Yorkshire.