Same-sex couples in the city will be able to formalise their relationships with new civil partnership registrations and ceremonies later this year.

A change in the law means every local authority will be required to provide a facility for civil partnership registration from December 5.

Gay partners will be able to sign forms for Civil Partnership Registration at town halls, register offices, hotels and other registered centres.

Louise Clover, registration service business support manager at Cambridgeshire County Council, said more than 20 couples in the county have already put their names forward.

She said: "The first of these new ceremonies can be held from December, subject to venue and registrar availability.

"We have already been contacted by more than 20 couples expressing an interest in having a civil partnership registration, some with a ceremony and some without. This means they will finally get what they wanted."

The change in legislation means couples can already make a provisional booking for a registration or ceremony.

Both partners must also be legally free to enter into a civil partnership, and a fee will apply.

Despite the swing in favour of gay couples, the definition or marriage will still remain as a union between one man and one woman under legislation for England and Wales, meaning homosexuals can only get involved in civil partnerships and not traditional marriages.

Rob Grace, co-ordinator for the Gay About Peterborough support group, said he was delighted that gay rights had taken another step forward with the civil partnership
ceremonies.

He said: "Although gay couples will still not be able to marry as heterosexual
couples currently can, this is certainly a move in the right direction.

"I have not yet come across anyone who is planning a civil partnership, but it will be interesting to see what the demand in Peterborough is like."

• For more information on civil partnerships, or to book a ceremony, visit www.
womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/civilpartnership/index.htm