The Government has dropped controversial plans to raise probate fees payable after death.

At present there is a flat fee of either £155 or £215 per application for probate, depending on whether or not it is made through a solicitor.

There is no fee charged for estates worth under £5,000.

Under new plans the fee, dubbed a death tax by critics, could have been as high as £20,000 for some high value estates.

But the BBC reports that the Government has decided there is now not enough time for the legislation to go through Parliament with a General Election on the horizon.

The increased fees would have raised around £300million a year towards running the courts and tribunal service.