Sark - The tiny Channel Island of Sark has taken a step into the 20th century after its ruling body changed a 400-year-old law to enable daughters to inherit property. Until Wednesday night the island law of 1565 ruled that property could be handed down only to the eldest son - with daughters inheriting if there were no male heirs.
But that was changed by an extraordinary meeting of the Chief Pleas, which governs the five-square-mile island. A leading member of the Chief Pleas, elected deputy Mr John Carre, said after the meeting that sexual discrimination and age discrimination had been taken away. Property could now be willed to any child.