INHERITANCE tax is hitting ordinary families, says a Tory.

The parliamentary candidate for Colne Valley, Maggie Throup, claims people who would not traditionally have been taxed when they received an inheritance are now having money taken by the Government because of the house price boom.

The tax threshold is now £263,000 but takes into account other assets as well as property.

Ms Throup will run against Labour's Kali Mountford in this year's General Election.

She said: "After seven years of Tony Blair's Government, the tax system has become unfair and complex.

"Labour have put up taxes 66 times.

"Pensioners, homeowners, businesses and families on all income levels are paying more to a Government which is not giving them value for money.

"Inheritance tax, once a tax on just the wealthy, is increasingly a tax on the homes of ordinary families.

"I believe the tax system should support families' financial security and independence rather than penalising them purely because of rising house prices."

The average price of a detached house in Kirklees is £213,037.

Since 1997, house prices have risen on average by 138% in the UK - but the inheritance tax threshold has risen by only 32%.