Transaction in Own Shares

British Portfolio Trust PLC
17 December 2003

British Portfolio Trust plc announces that on 17th December  2003 it purchased,
for cancellation, 25,000 Ordinary ranking 1p Shares (representing 0.05% of the
issued Ordinary capital), at a price of 117p per Ordinary Share.

Settlement and cancellation of the purchased 25,000 Ordinary Shares is due on
22nd December 2003 when the issued share capital of the Trust will fall to
49,774,205 Ordinary 1p Shares.

Enquiries:

P W I Ingram
Company Secretary
Tel: [phone]

17th December 2003






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