Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson has been putting his players thorugh some tough pre-season training at Rivington Pike.

Ten of Watkinson's first team squad were walking, running and 'stair climbing' in the peaks and troughs of the Chorley beauty spot on Tuesday.

The two hour trek was the Red Rose county's first official pre-season training assignmen The rest of the squad were either playing cricket abroad or completing other work commitments.

Watkinson said: ""Today was just a little bit of a team bonding exercise to get everybody back together.

"After Christmas we will get serious. It's great to have the lads back, and something like this brings everybody together.

"We do a mixture of walking and running, and it gives everybody a chance to have a bit of a chat and catch up. It's nice countryside, and a good environment for it."

"A lot of the other lads, when I have been nipping into the gym over the last few weeks, have been in there doing their own bit of fitness work getting ready for the pre-season training. It's really good to see. I think people realise that rather than pre-season training being a bit of a slog, it can be an opportunity for them to realise their true potential."

Watkinson joined in himself, and explained that he will be accompanying his players on pre-Christmas trips to cycle at the Velodrome and to also do some indoor rock climbing.

Lancashire strength and conditioning coach Alex Horn, who has previously worked in Scottish football with Aberdeen and Ross County, gave commenting about preparations for the summer of 2008 said: "Ultimately December is all about team building, having a bit of fun. It's building up the fitness perhaps without the players realising that is what we are ultimately trying to do," he said.