US investment bank Greenhill and the former chairman of Royal Bank of Scotland have emerged in key advisory roles in a rescue plan for stricken mortgage lender Northern Rock revealed today by Sir Richard Branson's conglomerate Virgin Group.

Virgin today confirmed to the UK stock exchange it has submitted a "non-binding indication of interest" to Northern Rock's board that proposes the injection of "substantial new equity" into the lender by Branson's conglomerate and its consortium partners.