Staff at a UK company owned by Virgin boss Richard Branson have been told to smarten up.

The British government is left today with just two options if it is to avoid nationalising the stricken Northern Rock bank after one of the main contenders pulled out hours before the bid deadline.

Richard Branson’s Virgin is planning to inject up to £1.5 billion into crisis-hit Northern Rock as part of a possible rescue deal for the bank, reports said today.