With speculation mounting over the one-day future of captain Michael Vaughan and Collingwood emerging as favourite to be his successor, the Durham all-rounder chose his first Test appearance at his home ground to claim his fifth Test century.

Collingwood hit an unbeaten 115 and shared a crucial 169-run seventh wicket stand with wicketkeeper Matt Prior to guide England into a 54-run lead on 341 for seven at tea on the fourth day just as West Indies seemed set to claim their only first innings lead of the series.

Resuming 166 behind on 121 for four, an England line-up with Steve Harmison batting at number eight looked vulnerable after they lost two wickets inside the first 13 overs of the day.

But after slumping to 165 for six, still trailing by 122 runs, England's seventh wicket pair took the game away from West Indies' dispirited line-up and embarked on a run-spree in the afternoon session.

Andrew Strauss had hoped to claim his first Test century in 18 innings when he resumed on 72 overnight but added just five runs before edging a lifting delivery from fast bowler Fidel Edwards behind.

Ian Bell followed 10 overs later after helping Collingwood to survive a testing spell from Edwards and fell two balls after the drinks break, driving an outswing from Daren Powell to Runako Morton in the gully.

Just as West Indies set their sights on establishing a crucial first innings lead, Collingwood teamed up with Prior to give England the momentum in emphatic style.

They guided England successfully to 202 for six at lunch to trail by 85 runs, but in the first hour after the interval the pair tore into an attack briefly deprived of Edwards with an ankle problem.

In the first hour they added 70 runs in only 16 overs with Prior setting the tone for their onslaught with a slog-sweep for six over mid-wicket off Marlon Samuels.

Even when West Indies took the new ball the run-spree failed to stop with the first two overs going for 29 runs with Prior reaching his half-century off 87 balls with a six off Corey Collymore.

Collingwood reached his fifth Test century, advancing from 50 to three figures in only 64 balls, with a pull off Edwards for his 13th boundary.

Prior failed to follow him to three figures after he attempted one aggressive shot too many, pulling Edwards to the deep where Devon Smith took a low catch and ended his entertaining innings of 62.

But Collingwood pushed on and had hit 15 boundaries at the interval as the England and Wales Cricket Board were preparing a statement for the close of play indicating whether Vaughan's role as one-day captain was soon to be vacated.