Underwriters in Bradford & Bingley’s rights issues confirmed on Friday they have been unable to unload the “rump” of stock they were left with after investors only took up 28 per cent of the £400m of new shares on offer.

Citigroup and UBS, the lead underwriters, had this week to unload the 72 per cent left over, but B&B said on Friday they did not expect to be able to do so by the deadline of market close today.