The Bishop of Worcester has backed civil partnerships for gay and lesbian couples at a meeting of the Church Of England's ruling body.

The Right Rev Dr Peter Selby spoke at the Synod as bishops were ordered to keep their teaching on civil partnerships "under review" after criticism from both liberals and traditionalists.

The current guidance from bishops allows gay clergy to enter into civil partnerships if they vow to abstain from sex, arguing it is compatible with the church's traditional teaching on marriage.

Bishop Peter said: "I personally remain absolutely convinced that for many lesbian and gay people, entering a civil partnership represents one of the best things they have done or could do - and one of the finest tributes to marriage that has been offered in this generation.

"I am very well aware that this is contrary to the view of a number of other people."

The bishops' teaching rules out public blessing of same sex unions but tells clergy that when they are approached by people asking for prayer in relation to entering a civil partnership, they should respond "pastorally and sensitively".

The bishops survived an attempt to criticise them for failing to "state clearly" that civil partnerships were "inconsistent" with church teaching against gay sex.

The Synod voted instead to "note" the intention of the bishops to keep their statement under review, following expressions of dissatisfaction from both pro-gay rights members of the Synod and traditionalists.