NTL has responded to Virgin Mobile's rejection of its initial 323p per share offer by threatening to make a lower one.

In a statement, NTL said that it "continues to believe that its potential offer at 323 pence per Virgin Mobile share represents better value, for all Virgin Mobile shareholders, than Virgin Mobile's stand-alone alternatives."

Virgin Mobile shares was valued at 355p per share at the close of trading on Friday.

NTL warned that it "eserves the right to make an offer at a price lower than 323 pence per Virgin Mobile share with the agreement of the Virgin Mobile Board or in the event that a person not acting in concert with NTL announces an offer at less than this price."