Transaction in Own Shares

British Portfolio Trust PLC
31 March 2005


British Portfolio Trust plc announces that on 31 March 2005 it purchased, for
cancellation, 35,000 Ordinary 1p Shares (representing 0.08% of the issued
Ordinary Capital), at a price of 137.50p per Ordinary Share.

Settlement and cancellation of the purchased 35,000 Ordinary Shares is due on 5
April 2005 when the issued share capital of the Trust will fall to 46,408,502
Ordinary 1p Shares.

Enquiries:

P W I Ingram
Company Secretary
Tel: [phone]

31 March 2005



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange