Foster had a dreadful conclusion to his round

England's Mark Foster threw the British Masters wide open after finishing his third round with a double-bogey six.

Foster, who had been four clear of the field, hit an awful second shot into the lake short of the green, then saw his pitch spin off the putting surface.

Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, France's Gregory Bourdy and Swedish trio Niclas Fasth, Martin Erlandsson and Fredrik Andersson Hed are closest to Foster.

Colin Montgomerie would have been eight under as well but for two late bogeys.

Foster's 69 left him two shots clear, though, and he said: "I didn't look at the leaderboards, but knew I was doing OK obviously."

"It was a shame, but I'll reflect on it - it was a good day overall.

"I was a bit dazed coming off the 18th, but the putt proved I had kept my focus and it gives me a good mental image.

"I take full responsibility. It was a three-iron shot, but I didn't want to hit it and hit a little wood instead."

Poulter double-bogeyed the sixth and eighth, but the former Ryder Cup player came home in 32 with birdies on the 10th, 12th, 14th and 17th.

On the sixth he pushed his drive into water and two holes later he went from a fairway bunker into the hazard short of the green.

"If I can keep playing like that there's a chance for me," said Poulter.

Westwood double-bogeyed the ninth, but had a hat-trick of birdies from the 15th to match Poulter's 70.