Two Blackpool hoteliers are set to make history this month as they become the first same sex couple to legally 'marry' in the resort.

John Blakey, 51, and Leslie Oldroyd, 66, will tie the knot in the town's first legally recognised civil partnership registration ceremony at Blackpool Town Hall on December 21, after new legislation came into place on Monday giving same sex couples identical rights to those in heterosexual unions.

The occasion - which could be the first of up to 60 ceremonies on the Fylde coast this month alone - will mean the couple are finally recognised as legal partners in areas such as tax, social security, inheritance and work place benefits, despite living together for more than 27 years.

John - who, along with Leslie, took over ownership the Royal Hotel, North Promenade, 18 years ago - said: "We've always been aware of the legal inequality surrounding gay relationships.

"We've kept our wills up-to-date and all the other paperwork but the problem was that despite the length of our relationship and the fact that we are clearly each others' next of kin, there would always be a question mark over certain things like pension rights.

"Now nobody will be able to legally deny our rights."

But John said the ceremony - which is subject to a 15-day 'period of intent' - meant much more to them than just a way of looking after legal and financial interests.

"We're very much looking forward to the future and the fact that we're the first of 60 couples to take the plunge means that we also get to become a part of Blackpool history."

Same sex couples wishing to form a civil partnership registration must be over 18 (or provide evidence of consent if between 16 and 18), not immediately related to each other and not in an existing marriage or civil partnership.

Blackpool has 12 venues licensed for such ceremonies.