Village Hall First To get Gay Marriage Licence

12.00.00am GMT Wed 20th Jul 2005

A venue in Shropshire has become the first village hall to be granted a licence to offer same-sex civil partnership ceremonies.

The Upton Magna Memorial Hall, near Shrewsbury obtained the licence after holding a heterosexual wedding service there last month.

According to the BBC, the hall was then informed by the council that a change in the law from December meant it would also be able to hold ceremonies for same-sex couples.

Paulette Roberts, the chairwoman of the village hall committee, said she did not have a view on same-sex marriages taking place at the village hall and that they would welcome anybody who wanted to get married.

"I know of many hotels and historical buildings in the county which have secured a licence but I know we are the first village hall," she said.

Karen Burton, manager for the Shropshire Registration Service, confirmed that Upton Magna was the first village hall in the county to secure such a licence.