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Those considering buying all, or part, of beleaguered lender Northern Rock have until today to express their interest in the bank.

US private equity group JC Flowers and a consortium led by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin group have already indicated they are considering tabling official bids for the Newcastle-based company.

Reports suggest that US private equity firm Cerberus may also express interest in the bank, while an investment group headed by the former boss of Abbey declared earlier this week that it was set to propose a rescue plan for Northern Rock.

Olivant said its chairman Luqman Arnold would work "intensively" with Northern Rock's board as part of the proposed move, which would involve the investment firm taking a minority stake in the lender.

Under such a proposal the bank could be spared from a complete sale or break-up of its operations.

It remains to be seen whether any other suitors will emerge, but reports suggest that approaches made after today's informal deadline – set by Northern Rock's advisers – may still be considered.

Northern Rock, which is being advised by Merrill Lynch, Citigroup and Blackstone, announced on Wednesday that it had obtained an injunction barring the disclosure of certain information sent to its potential suitors.

The move came after a newspaper published supposed details of a memorandum sent to prospective Northern Rock buyers on its website, which led to reports about the amount of cash the lender could still owe the Bank of England in years to come.

It is estimated that the UK's fifth-largest mortgage lender now owes the central bank more than £20 billion, leading to dwindling hopes of a return to Northern Rock investors in the wake of any sale involving the business.

Northern Rock ran into trouble when it was at the centre of the first run on a British bank in almost 150 years in September.

Northern Rock savers rushed to withdraw their cash from the lender after it emerged the company had asked the Bank of England for an emergency loan, due to liquidity problems prompted by the ongoing global squeeze on credit.

The government was subsequently forced to guarantee the savings of Northern Rock customers, in order to restore confidence in the UK banking system.