Two sisters in their eighties who have lived together all their lives have lost their legal challenge against UK inheritance laws that deny them the same rights as married or same-sex couples.
Under UK tax laws, when either Joyce, 88 or Sybil Burden, 80, dies the surviving sister will face a large inheritance tax bill on their jointly owned property.
When the 2004 Civil Partnership Act extended to gays and lesbians the same exemption from inheritance tax already enjoyed by married couples, the sisters began a legal bid to qualify for the same exemption.
But this morning the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the 2004 change does not cover family members living together.
