A GAY couple from Worcestershire are pre-paring to be one of the first to marry under new laws which come into force at the end of this year.

The Cutnall Green sub-postmasters have already been joined together during a blessing ceremony, performed by a bishop from Devon.

But now they want to seal their relationship with a legal bond.

"The religious ceremony was the most important thing to us, to commit in the eyes of God," said Lord Lee Morton, who was given his title as a birthday present by friends.

"But we want to also go through the legal ceremony, so that we have the same rights as any other married couple in this country."

Lord Morton and his partner David Smith, who are both practising Christians, were featured on a BBC Three TV documentary called Wedding Stories, which followed nine couples as they prepared for their big day.

The programme filmed them in the months leading up to the civil ceremony at The Elms in Abberley back in August 2004.

"It was a wonderful day with all of our friends and family," said Lord Morton, a self-confessed eccentric. "All the ladies wore hats, we had a helicopter and it was just amazing.

"This next ceremony will be a much smaller affair in a register office. We have shown our commitment in front of all of the people we love already."

It is expected that by the end of this year the law will be changed to allow same sex couples the right to a civil marriage ceremony.

Lord Morton and Mr Smith met three-an-a-half years ago at a party in Birmingham and fell in love.

They not only own the village shop in Cutnall Green but are very active in the community raising funds for Cutnall Green Village Hall and attending church on a regular basis.

"We have never had any problems with discrimination in the village. People are very supportive of our wishes to get married so that we can become equal," said Lord Morton.