Tony Frost batted his way into the record books as Warwickshire piled on the runs in their Championship match against Essex at Chelmsford.

Frost's unbeaten 242 in 514-9 declared was the highest individual score by a Warwickshire player against Essex.

It beat the 223 not out by Billy Quaife at Leyton in 1900, though he was dropped on three occasions.

Warwickshire established a lead of 173, but Essex responded positively to reach 125-1 in their second innings.

Frost defied all attempts to remove him for just under 10 hours while collecting 30 fours and a six during his 466-ball stay.

But while his concentration and determination were to be admired, he needed some luck to be part of the county's history.

He was dropped on 100, 110 and 239 as the Essex fielding fell well below its usual standard.

Warwickshire had resumed on 277-3 in reply to a 341 total, and only briefly did Essex, desperately attempting to win both their last two matches to gain promotion, threaten to get back into the game.

That was when off-spinner James Middlebrook got rid of Jim Troughton and Tim Ambrose with successive deliveries to leave Warwickshire on 342-6.

But Frost and Rikki Clarke added 107 to re-assert the visitors' position.

Essex quickly lost Jason Gallian when they went in again, trapped lbw by Chris Wilkes without scoring.

Had Jonathan Trott not spilt a straightforward catch at first slip offered by Ravi Bopara off Darren Maddy when he had made 21, Essex would have been in further trouble.

But Bopara made good his escape to reach 81 not out, having shared in an unbroken stand of 119 with John Maunders - who will resume the final day on 38.