Rule 8.3 - THORNTONS PLC

    FORM 8.3
                                        
    DEALINGS BY PERSONS WITH INTERESTS IN SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
              (Rule 8.3 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers)


1.   KEY INFORMATION

Name of person dealing        BARCLAYS PLC
(Note 1)                      
Company dealt in              THORNTONS PLC
Class of relevant security    ORD GBP 0.10
to which the dealings being
disclosed relate (Note 2)
Date of dealing               20 DECEMBER 2005

2.   INTERESTS, SHORT POSITIONS AND RIGHTS TO SUBSCRIBE

(a)  Interests and short positions (following dealing) in the class of relevant
security dealt in (Note 3)

                               Long                   Short
                                              
                          Number          (%)    Number        (%)
                                              
(1) Relevant           2,540,424      (3.81%)         0    (0.00%)
securities
(2) Derivatives                0      (0.00%)         0    (0.00%)
(other than options)
(3) Options and                0      (0.00%)         0    (0.00%)
agreements to
purchase/sell
Total                  2,540,424      (3.81%)         0    (0.00%)



(b)  Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the company, other
     than the class dealt in (Note 3)

Class of relevant             Long                  Short
security:
            
                         Number       (%)    Number         (%)
                         
(1) Relevant securities                   
  
(2)  Derivatives (other                  
than options)
  
(3) Options and                           
agreements to
purchase/sell
  
Total                                     


(c)  Rights to subscribe (Note 3)

Class of relevant security:   Details

                              

3.   DEALINGS (Note 4)

(a)  Purchases and sales

Purchase/sale Number of Securities Price per unit
                                   (GBP)
Sale          5,000                1.5600


(b)  Derivatives transactions (other than options)

Product     Long/short      Number of securities  Price per unit
name,       (Note 6)        (Note 7)              (Note 5)
e.g. CFD
                                                  
     
(c)  Options transactions in respect of existing securities

(i)  Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Product name,   Writing,          Number of          Exercise  Type, e.g.      Expiry   Option money
e.g. call       selling,          securities to      price     American,       date     paid/received
option          purchasing,       which the option             European etc.            per unit (Note
                varying etc.      relates (Note 7)                                      5)
                                                          

(ii) Exercising

Product name, e.g.  Number of           Exercise price per
call option         securities          unit (Note 5)
                                        
                                        
                                        

(d)  Other dealings (including new securities) (Note 4)


Nature of transaction Details           Price per unit
(Note 8)                                (if applicable)
                                        (Note 5)
                                        


4.   OTHER INFORMATION

Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives


Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the
person disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of
any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or
relating to the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any
relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is
referenced.  If none, this should be stated.





Is a Supplemental Form 8 attached? (Note 9)                 NO


Date of disclosure                         21 DECEMBER 2005
Contact name                               BARCLAYS CORPORATE SECRETARIAT
Telephone number                           020 7116 2913
If a connected EFM, name of                
offeree/offeror with which connected
If a connected EFM, state nature of        
connection (Note 10)


Notes

The Notes on Form 8.3 can be viewed on the Takeover Panels website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk