March 8 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

-National Gas has tested running pure hydrogen through its pipelines in a world first as it attempts to make the case for the lower-carbon fuel as an alternative to natural gas.

- Aviva AV.L said it would return a further 300 million pounds ($384.27 million) to stock market investors through another share buyback.

The Guardian

- UK's Insolvency Service has begun legal action to have Lex Greensill disqualified from running companies for up to 15 years after the outcome of an investigation into the directors of his failed finance firm Greensill Capital.

- Britain's green power industry has received a surprise fillip after renewables developer NatPower pledged to plough 10 billion pounds into what would become the largest portfolio of battery storage projects in the country.

The Telegraph

- Selfridges tycoon Rene Benko has filed for insolvency following the implosion of his property empire Signa.

- Ladbrokes owner Entain ENT.L has warned of a potential 40 million pound hit to profits amid the Government's crackdown on gambling.

Sky News

- Mike Ashley's Frasers Group FRAS.L is putting Matchesfashion, the luxury online clothing platform, into administration.

- Nationwide Building Society NBS.L has agreed terms for a takeover of Virgin Money VMUK.L in a 2.9 billion pound deal that would create a larger rival to the UK's major lenders.

The Independent

- British foreign minister David Cameron has urged Hamas to accept the hostage deal as he reiterated a call for a "permanent sustainable ceasefire".

($1 = 0.7807 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)

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