DOZENS of gay couples registered to 'marry' at East Lancashire register offices on the day the law officially recognised same-sex unions.

Councils running the main register offices in the area are now preparing to hold the first 'civil partnership' services on December 21.

Lancashire County Council said 22 gay couples had registered at Accrington Register Office for the service by the end of yesterday, with four more couples at asking for ceremonies at Burnley Register Office.

A spokesman for the authority said: "The registration lasts 12 months, so not all the couples will necessarily marry this month."

Blackburn with Darwen Council, which runs the Blackburn town centre register office, said it had received 40 'initial inquiries' from gay couples.

But it could not provide figures for the number of couples who had registered because the registrar was unavailable.

The first couples signed official 'notifications' which will allow them to take part into the civil partnership ceremony after 15 days.

While registration has to take place at a register office, the ceremonies can be carried out at any venue with a wedding licence.

Coun John Millburn, executive member for resources at Blackburn with Darwen, said: "The borough registrar's office has been working hard to ensure it is ready for this landmark. Everything is in place and we will be able to offer civil partnerships."

Nationally, it is thought around 1,200 ceremonies were booked yesterday - with East Lancashire's total eclipsing cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and Liverpool.