A BIRMINGHAM millionaire has confirmed he is putting together a bid to scupper Alchemy Partners' ambitions to buy Rover. John Hemming, Birmingham city councillor and software tycoon, is negotiating with a number of Midlands business figures in a consortium called 'Rover Future'.

The Department of Trade and Industry said it would judge Hemming's bid if and when it surfaced, but denied Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers had been seeking alternative bidders.