Purchase of Own Securities

British Portfolio Trust PLC
20 October 2003

British Portfolio Trust plc announces that on 20th October 2003 it purchased,
for cancellation, 92,000 Ordinary 1p Shares (representing 0.19% of the issued
Ordinary capital), at a price of 116p per Ordinary Share.

Settlement and cancellation of the purchased 92,000 Ordinary Shares is due on
23rd October 2003 when the issued share capital of the Trust will fall to
47,252,441 Ordinary 1p Shares.

Enquiries:

P W I Ingram

Company Secretary

Tel: [phone]

20th October 2003






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