Barclays is in talks to take over UK mortgage specialist Woolwich for £5.5bn (€9.11bn) in a deal which observers believe could be formalised within the next few days.

Barclays has said that it would pay 164p in cash and 0.1175 Barclays shares per Woolwich share. Woolwich shareholders will retain the Woolwich interim dividend of 4.4p per share.