Edwards took 5-51 as Essex were dismissed for just 164 in reply to Hampshire's declaration of 525-8.

Only an Alastair Cook half-century and Ravi Bopara's unbeaten 37 offered any resistance for the 2017 champions.

Bopara moved to an unbeaten 60 in the follow-on but Essex slumped to 132-4, still 229 runs behind with a day left.

Hampshire will only need another five wickets for victory as Essex are without wicketkeeper Adam Wheater who injured his thumb on the first day and will miss at least six weeks following surgery.

The hosts had injury problems to their own wicketkeeper Tom Alsop, who was struck on the hand by an Edwards throw. Captain James Vince initially stood in with the gloves before Lewis McManus took over.

Earlier, Essex had made patient progress in the morning session after resuming on 25-1, but lost Cook and Dan Lawrence on the stroke of lunch to slip to 108-4.

Hampshire then continued to rally in the afternoon and claimed the last five wickets for just 56 runs to take a commanding 361-run lead.

That momentum continued into the follow-on as Kyle Abbott (2-38) and Keith Barker (1-24) struck early to leave Essex floundering on 27-3.

Bopara and Tom Westley (24) steadied things by adding 67 for the fourth wicket, but Edwards struck again before the close to restore Hampshire's stranglehold.