MANCHESTER Airports Group (MAG) has approached Virgin Atlantic about mounting a £2bn joint bid for Gatwick Airport, according to reports.

Other companies are also likely to join the consortium as it chases Gatwick which will be sold next year when airports operator BAA is broken up.

The M.E.N. has previously reported the competition that Sir Richard Branson's airline faced from MAG for London's second biggest airport.

Gatwick handles more than 34 million passengers a year and could fetch more than £2bn if an auction goes ahead.

The sale has been caused by the Competition Commission's interim ruling that BAA might have to sell three of its seven UK airports - two in London and one in Scotland.

MAG was first out the blocks last month in the race to take over airports that BAA is likely to sell.

The group is also known to be interested in Glasgow Airport - where it could face a battle with the Dutch-based Schiphol Group - as well Edinburgh Airport.