ANXIOUS customers are expected to resume the run on deposits at Northern Rock today, as speculation mounts over the bank's future.

Branch managers have agreed to open early and close late in anticipation of further queues of savers wanting to empty their accounts.

With the stock market reopening after the weekend, attention is likely to focus on how the Newcastle-based bank's shares fare amid widespread rumours of takeover interest.

If Northern Rock's share price continues to plummet today, it will increase its vulnerability to a buy-out and make it more attractive to suitors.

A two-day run on the bank on Friday and Saturday saw up to £2bn drained from accounts, according to some reports.

In anticipation of further withdrawals today, doors at Northern Rock will open at 8am and close at 6pm - extending the working day by two hours.

Throughout the weekend, the chief financial watchdog and the Government have sought to reassure people their money is safe.

Callum McCarthy, chairman of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), said: ''To be absolutely clear, if we believed that Northern Rock was not solvent, we would not have allowed it to remain open for business.''

But pleas for calm have failed to negate concern sparked by the move by Northern Rock to seek emergency funding from the Bank of England.

That decision was prompted by cash flow problems caused by the drying up of the money markets, which has deprived the lender of one of its main funding sources.

Experts are now predicting that Northern Rock will cease to exist in 12 months, with some saying a buy-out will come sooner rather than later.

But it is thought that the Bank of England wants to stabilise the the company before it is sold on.

It is believed that talks between the Bank of England, the FSA and the Treasury will resume today to discuss the way forward for the bank.

There is also speculation on the future of Northern Rock chief executive Adam Applegarth.