A GAY town councillor from Evesham is to marry his long-term partner in the first civil partnership ceremony in the town.

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 comes into force on December 5, allowing same sex couples to tie the knot and have the same rights as heterosexual couples.

Michael Elliman, aged 59, and 41-year-old David Canning met in Worcester more than eight years ago and decided to formalise their relationship while on holiday in the Channel Islands last Christmas.

"We were walking along the beach in St Helier when we decided, but we have had to wait a year for it to happen," said Michael.

"It is going to make life a lot easier because we will be classed as partners.At the moment we have to fill in separate forms at the job centre and places because we are classed as two single people. If we are classed as a married couple we will not have to pay inheritance tax if one of us dies, the assets will just go to the other one."

Other benefits include full recognition for life assurance schemes, the ability to succeed to tenancy rights and next-of-kin visiting rights in hospitals.

The men share a home in St Christopher Court, Evesham, where they will host a reception after the ceremony at Evesham Register Office on Wednesday, Dec-ember 21.

Afterwards they will honeymoon in Tunisia.

The ceremonies can be held from December 21.