Stamp duty 'is double 1997 level'

Homeowners in London and the South-East have seen stamp duty more than double since Labour came to power, new figures show.

Research by the Conservatives shows the average bill has risen from £680 in 1997 to £1,573. The highest rises have been recorded in London's commuter belt.

Changes introduced by Chancellor Gordon Brown have seen the average cost of stamp duty reach more than ?10,000 in many areas.

The highest increase was in Henley-on-Thames, where the average stamp duty has risen by £12,443 since 1997.

Other towns registering sharp increases include Gerrards Cross, with a rise of £11,889, Ascot (?10,744) and Weybridge (?11,066).