Stones are seen on the bank of the River Thames during low tide in London, Britain January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth SEARCH "THAMES WERMUTH" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A dying bird covered in spilled oil lies on a rock on the banks of the San Juan river in Cadereyta August 26, 2014. An oil pipeline spill that contaminated the river in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon will take months to clean up, the country's top water authority said on Thursday. The 24-inch Madero-Cadereyta pipeline, owned by national oil company Pemex, was ruptured when thieves attempted to tap into it, the company said on Sunday. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril (MEXICO - Tags: ANIMALS DISASTER ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS ENERGY)

A logo at a branch of Virgin Money bank is seen in the City of London March 6, 2013. Virgin Money bought troubled British bank Northern Rock in 2012 for 747 million GBP. REUTERS/Toby Melville (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS)

A logo at a branch of Virgin Money bank is seen in the City of London March 6, 2013. Virgin Money bought troubled British bank Northern Rock in 2012 for 747 million GBP. REUTERS/Toby Melville (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS)

Boys play water as their parents pan for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Stringer (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES)

People pan for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES)

A woman makes her way back home after she pans for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES)

People make their way home after panning for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES)

A woman pans for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES)

A man pans for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES)

People pan for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES)

People pan for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES)

A girl pans for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State, February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES)

A boy plays in the water as his parents pan for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State, February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice.REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES)

Signs are seen on the front of the Virgin Money office in Norwich, south east England November 19, 2011. Britain will sell nationalised lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin group, in a loss-making deal that starts the government's exit from the banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Darren Staples (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS)

Signs are seen on the front of the Virgin Money office in Norwich, south east England November 19, 2011. Britain will sell nationalised lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin group, in a loss-making deal that starts the government's exit from the banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Darren Staples (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS)

People pass a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

People pass a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

People pass a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

People pass a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

A woman passes a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

A general view of the Northern Rock's head office in Gosforth, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY)

The iconic clock of a branch of a Northern Rock bank is seen in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY)

A man speaks on a mobile phone outside a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY)

The iconic clock of a branch of a Northern Rock bank is seen in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY)

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne looks on as Mervyn King (unseen), the Governor of the Bank of England, speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning(BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (L) looks on as Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (L) looks on as Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

A member of the Samaritan sect sits on a rock atop Mount Gerizim during the traditional pilgrimage marking the holiday of Shavuot, near the West Bank city of Nablus early June 12, 2011. The Samaritans, who trace their roots to the biblical Kingdom of Israel in what is now the northern occupied West Bank, observe religious practices similar to those of Judaism. REUTERS/Nir Elias (WEST BANK - Tags: RELIGION)

Pedestrians are reflected as they pass a branch of Northern Rock in the City of London March 9, 2011. Northern Rock Plc does not have to be profitable to return to the private sector, the state-owned British bank said when reporting a 2010 loss. Northern Rock said on Wednesday it was "on the right trajectory to profitability" and continued to prepare for life out of state ownership, when posting a 232 million pound ($375 million) loss. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS)

A black cab drives past a branch of Northern Rock in the City of London, August 3, 2010. The companies born from the split of the old Northern Rock group, the nationalised British bank which was the UK's first major credit crisis victim, reported contrasting fortunes on Tuesday in their interim results. Northern Rock Asset Management -- the so-called "bad bank" bit of the old group -- posted a pretax profit of 349.7 million pounds ($553 million), boosted by lower bad det charges, compared with a loss of 724.2 million a year earlier. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

A black cab drives past a branch of Northern Rock in the City of London, August 3, 2010. The companies born from the split of the old Northern Rock group, the nationalised British bank which was the UK's first major credit crisis victim, reported contrasting fortunes on Tuesday in their interim results. Northern Rock Asset Management -- the so-called "bad bank" bit of the old group -- posted a pretax profit of 349.7 million pounds ($553 million), boosted by lower bad det charges, compared with a loss of 724.2 million a year earlier. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

A one way street sign is seen outside a branch of Northern Rock in the City of London, August 3, 2010. The companies born from the split of the old Northern Rock group, the nationalised British bank which was the UK's first major credit crisis victim, reported contrasting fortunes on Tuesday in their interim results. Northern Rock Asset Management -- the so-called "bad bank" bit of the old group -- posted a pretax profit of 349.7 million pounds ($553 million), boosted by lower bad det charges, compared with a loss of 724.2 million a year earlier. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Chief Executive of Britain's nationalised Northern Rock, Gary Hoffman, leaves after speaking at a Treasury Select Committee session in central London January 12, 2010. Hoffman, Stephen Hester, Chief Executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, and Eric Daniels, Chief Executive of Lloyds Banking Group, all heads of three bailed-out British banks addressed the Committee on Tuesday. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS)

The Chief Executive of Britain's nationalised Northern Rock, Gary Hoffman, arrives to speak at a Treasury Select Committee session in central London January 12, 2010. Hoffman, Stephen Hester, Chief Executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, and Eric Daniels, Chief Executive of Lloyds Banking Group, all heads of three bailed-out British banks addressed the Committee on Tuesday. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS)

The Chief Executive of Britain's nationalised Northern Rock, Gary Hoffman, arrives to speak at a Treasury Select Committee session in central London January 12, 2010. Hoffman, Stephen Hester, Chief Executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, and Eric Daniels, Chief Executive of Lloyds Banking Group, all heads of three bailed-out British banks addressed the Committee on Tuesday. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS)

A Palestinian labourer salvages rocks near the border with Israel, on the eve of the first anniversary of a three-week Gaza war that killed some 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis, December 26, 2009. Israeli soldiers shot and killed three Palestinians near a border fence in northern Gaza they suspected of trying to infiltrate from the Hamas-ruled territory but a Hamas security source said the three were shot as they collected scrap metal. A total of six Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces on Saturday in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in the bloodiest violent outbreak in months. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis (GAZA - Tags: ANNIVERSARY CIVIL UNREST IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Turkish Kurdish people take shelter under a huge rock as they rest on the banks of the Tigris river in the town of Hasankeyf, southeastern Turkey, August 14, 2009. Partly under EU pressure, the government has taken small steps to improve cultural rights for Turkey's 12 million Kurds. The government plan is expected to allow Kurdish departments to be set up at university and pumping billions of dollars into the impoverished southeast. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY POLITICS SOCIETY)

A woman is reflected as she passes a branch of Northern Rock in London August 4, 2009. British bank Northern Rock said on Tuesday its first-half losses rose almost 24 percent, as delays to EU approval for its state-backed turnaround hit funding costs and held back its ability to help revive the UK mortgage market. . REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN BUSINESS)

A sign is reflected in the window of a branch of Northern Rock in London August 4, 2009. British bank Northern Rock said on Tuesday its first-half losses rose almost 24 percent, as delays to EU approval for its state-backed turnaround hit funding costs and held back its ability to help revive the UK mortgage market. . REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN BUSINESS)

A sign is seen outside a branch of the Northern Rock bank in central London August 4, 2009. British bank Northern Rock said on Tuesday its first-half losses rose almost 24 percent, as delays to EU approval for its state-backed turnaround hit funding costs and held back its ability to help revive the UK mortgage market.
REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN BUSINESS)

A man is seen in a branch of the Northern Rock bank in central London August 4, 2009. British bank Northern Rock said on Tuesday its first-half losses rose almost 24 percent, as delays to EU approval for its state-backed turnaround hit funding costs and held back its ability to help revive the UK mortgage market.
REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN BUSINESS)

A pedestrian walks past a branch of the Northern Rock bank in central London August 4, 2009. British bank Northern Rock said on Tuesday its first-half losses rose almost 24 percent, as delays to EU approval for its state-backed turnaround hit funding costs and held back its ability to help revive the UK mortgage market.
REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN BUSINESS)

A pedestrian walks past a branch of the Northern Rock bank in central London August 4, 2009. British bank Northern Rock said on Tuesday its first-half losses rose almost 24 percent, as delays to EU approval for its state-backed turnaround hit funding costs and held back its ability to help revive the UK mortgage market.
REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN BUSINESS)

European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes gives a news conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels May 7, 2009. The European Commission has extended the scope of its year-long investigation into whether British state aid used to rescue Northern Rock bank breached European Union competition rules. REUTERS/Thierry Roge (BELGIUM POLITICS BUSINESS)

European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes gives a news conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels May 7, 2009. The European Commission has extended the scope of its year-long investigation into whether British state aid used to rescue Northern Rock bank breached European Union competition rules. REUTERS/Thierry Roge (BELGIUM POLITICS BUSINESS HEADSHOT)

European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes gives a news conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels May 7, 2009. The European Commission has extended the scope of its year-long investigation into whether British state aid used to rescue Northern Rock bank breached European Union competition rules. REUTERS/Thierry Roge (BELGIUM POLITICS BUSINESS HEADSHOT)

Pedestrians walk past a branch of a Northern Rock bank in the City of London March 3, 2009. British state-owned bank Northern Rock said on Tuesday it made a loss of 1.36 billion pounds ($1.91 billion) in 2008, confirming guidance it gave in an update last month. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN)

Pedestrians walk past a branch of the Northern Rock bank in the City of London February 23, 2009. Britain will inject billions of pounds into state-owned Northern Rock bank to try to unlock lending and help the economy emerge from recession, finance minister Alistair Darling said on Monday. The plan to get Northern Rock lending again forms part of a package expected this week designed to get credit in Britain flowing again after the economy shrank by 1.5 percent in the last three months of 2008. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN)

Pedestrians walk past a branch of the Northern Rock bank in the City of London February 23, 2009. Britain will inject billions of pounds into state-owned Northern Rock bank to try to unlock lending and help the economy emerge from recession, finance minister Alistair Darling said on Monday. The plan to get Northern Rock lending again forms part of a package expected this week designed to get credit in Britain flowing again after the economy shrank by 1.5 percent in the last three months of 2008. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN)

A pedestrian walks past a branch of the Northern Rock bank in the City of London February 23, 2009. Britain will inject billions of pounds into state-owned Northern Rock bank to try to unlock lending and help the economy emerge from recession, finance minister Alistair Darling said on Monday. The plan to get Northern Rock lending again forms part of a package expected this week designed to get credit in Britain flowing again after the economy shrank by 1.5 percent in the last three months of 2008. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN)

Representatives of smaller shareholders in Northern Rock hold placards outside a branch of the bank, in London January 12, 2009. They were in London to highlight the shareholders claim for fair compensation after losing shares when the bank was nationalised. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty (BRITAIN)

Representatives of smaller shareholders in Northern Rock carry placards, in London January 12, 2009. They were in London, travelling in a double decker bus, to highlight the shareholders claim for fair compensation after losing shares when the bank was nationalised. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty (BRITAIN)

Representatives of smaller shareholders in Northern Rock carry placards, in London January 12, 2009. They were in London to highlight the shareholders claim for fair compensation after losing shares when the bank was nationalised. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty (BRITAIN)

Representatives of smaller shareholders in Northern Rock carry placards, in London January 12, 2009. They were in London to highlight the shareholders claim for fair compensation after losing shares when the bank was nationalised. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty (BRITAIN)