Stamp duty is to be abolished on the sale of both domestic and commercial properties worth up to £150,000 in some of the country's most disadvantages areas, including some in Thurrock.

In his pre-Budget statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown said that in an effort to help the areas of Britain with the slowest growth and highest unemployment, in 2,000 wards across the country the duty would be abolished from Friday.

Thurrock wards which will have stamp duty abolished are Tilbury Riverside, Tilbury St Chads, Belhus, Chadwell St Mary and West Thurrock.

Published Thursday November 29, 2001