THE list of bidders for Telegraph newspapers has grown after it emerged a private equity company made an offer ahead of Thursday's deadline.

Candover joined Express Newspapers owner Richard Desmond and stockbrokers Collins Stewart as declared bidders for the broadsheets, owned by US media group Hollinger International.

Other offers are reported to have come from the Daily Mail and General Trust and investment group Apax, although both declined to comment.

Candover said it had submitted an offer to investment bank Lazard, which is managing the sale on behalf of Hollinger, but would not reveal a price.

The City believes the Telegraph titles to be worth about £550m.

The proposal represents Candover's first move into national newspapers, although it has completed two major buyouts in regional media.

It is expected to follow its previous strategy for media investments of backing existing management and rejecting an early stock market flotation.