The UK government’s deadline for rescue bids for crisis-hit mortgage lender Northern Rock expires today with a trio of possible deals on the table.

Crisis-hit British bank Northern Rock edged back from the brink of nationalisation today after the Treasury unveiled new funding guarantees to support a private sector rescue.

The UK Treasury today confirmed plans to back a private-sector rescue of Northern Rock through the sale of government-guaranteed bonds to pay off the crisis-hit lender's £24bn (€32.3bn) debts.

Richard Branson's Virgin Group is today reportedly planning a sweetened bid for Northern Rock as the British government is poised to outline financial support for a private sale.

Shares in beleaguered Northern Rock fell to a new record low today amid looming prospects of nationalisation for the stricken lender.

UK Chancellor Alistair Darling suffered fresh attacks over his handling of the Northern Rock crisis today amid speculation that the crippled lender faces imminent nationalisation.

Northern Rock said today it has agreed to sell £2.2bn (€2.9bn) of its mortgage assets to a US investment bank.

A third major shareholder in crisis-hit lender Northern Rock today lent its backing to plans giving investors a bigger say over the future of the stricken firm.

The board of Northern Rock is considering the possibility of an “in-house” rescue for the stricken bank, it was reported today.

Bradford and Bingley was today being linked to a possible move to buy assets from the troubled British lender Northern Rock.

The UK's treasury made a fresh move to shore up Northern Rock today, as Bank of England Governor Mervyn King warned of more gloom for banks across the world.

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King is set to face a fresh grilling from MPs today over the rescue of crisis-hit Northern Rock.

INVESTMENT GROUP Olivant has been told it will have to put an extra £200-300 million (€280-420m) into its takeover bid for ailing bank Northern Rock, according to a report yesterday.

Investment bank Goldman Sachs has been called in to come up with a finance package that would allow a private sector bidder to take over Northern Rock, it emerged today.

Northern Rock led gains on the London market today as shares in the stricken bank surged 7% on renewed hopes of a rescue from investment group Olivant.

Crisis-hit Northern Rock saw shares soar 10% today as reports suggested Olivant’s hopes of rescuing the beleaguered lender had been given a boost.

Richard Branson’s bid for Northern Rock has taken a blow after the crisis-hit lender placed a rival suitor on an equal footing, it was reported today.

The FTSE 100 Index tumbled back below the 6400 barrier today as investor doubts over plans by central banks to ease the credit crunch knocked 3% off UK blue chips.

Pressure is growing on the Northern Rock board today after one of the two bidders for the bank threatened to pull out unless a takeover decision is made before Christmas.

The London market held firm above the 6500 barrier today as housebuilders and miners encouraged the blue-chip index to race ahead.

Housebuilding shares continued their rebound today as traders eyed value in the sector after yesterday’s quarter point cut in interest rates.

Northern Rock suitor JC Flowers has walked away from the bidding battle to secure a rescue plan for the troubled mortgage bank, it emerged today.

The battle for crisis-hit British bank Northern Rock looks set to intensify this week as a number of suitors re-table bids to rival the one put forward by Virgin, it was reported today.

The FTSE 100 Index soared above the 6400 barrier today as the market notched its biggest weekly gain since before the summer's credit crunch.

Further gains for the embattled banking sector helped keep the London market in positive territory today.

The biggest declared shareholder in Northern Rock today threatened to block any deal to restore stability to the troubled bank that would not deliver value for money for shareholders.

There were renewed fears over lender Northern Rock’s ability to repay its £24bn (€33.4bn) taxpayer debts today after a newspaper raised doubts about its mortgage assets.

At least two firm bids for beleaguered British mortgage lender Northern Rock have emerged, but taxpayers in the UK could still end up propping up the company for up to three years.

UK opposition parties will up the pressure on chancellor Alistair Darling over the Northern Rock crisis today as the company continues its search for a potential buyer.

British Chancellor Alistair Darling will set out the UK government’s principles for the sale of troubled lender Northern Rock today.

Today is the final date for bidders to put forward rescue proposals for beleaguered British mortgage lender Northern Rock.

Shares in crisis-hit Northern Rock jumped today after one of the City’s foremost bankers unveiled rescue plans for the mortgage lender.

A former boss of Abbey said today that he was working on a possible salvage plan for stricken mortgage bank Northern Rock.