A long-running campaign to scrap ancient rules forbidding women from becoming freemen of Norwich has moved another step forward.Amendments to a bill currently passing through parliament would allow guilds of freemen to change their rules to admit women.

A long-running campaign involving a North Walsham woman who wants to scrap ancient rules forbidding women from becoming freemen of Norwich has taken another step forward.

Amendments to a bill passing through parliament would allow guilds of freemen to change their rules to admit women.

"We believe the new clauses in

the bill - once enacted - will

resolve the issue," wrote Sadiq

Khan, minister for communities

and local government.

His comments came in a letter to North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb, who has been campaigning on behalf of constituent Sue Howes, 52, from North Walsham.

She wants the rules changed so her father Ron Marrison, 80, from Cromer, can pass the ancient honour down to her. Currently it can only be passed from father to son.

Mr Lamb said he hoped

the bill would be passed before parliament's summer recess.