AN EAST Lancashire couple are among the first in Britain to convert their civil partnership into a gay marriage.

Dionne Kennedy and Julie Mooney from Rossendale officially tied the knot at Preston Register Office and said they were delighted to be finally legally wed.

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Blackburn MP Jack Straw welcomed the change in the law allowing civil partners to convert to a marriage which came into force yesterday and the Lancashire County Council decision to waive the £45 cost of a marriage licence.

His Burnley Liberal Democrat counterpart Gordon Birtwistle wished the couple well but said: “I wish them well but I don’t agree with waiving the licence fee.”

Dionne, 38, and 53-year-old Julie,who both work in the caring professions, met six years ago.

They took out a civil partnership in 2012, paying the relevant fee.

Dionne said: “We took out a civil partnership but always wanted to be properly married. Waiving the licence fee did not matter, we just wanted to get married.”

Julie said: “We are over the moon.” We just wanted to be properly wed.”

Mr Straw said: “It is sensible to make it easy for people to upgrade to a full marriage, very different from the position even 15 years ago.”

From yesterday, couples across the UK have the option of a simple conversion from a civil partnership to a marriage following the Marriages (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.

Dionne and Julie were among the first in the UK to take advantage of the legal change.

The fee waiver lasts for 12 months for anyone who took out a civil partnership before March 29.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry said: “I would like to congratulate this local couple on their conversion.”

A spokesman for the Bishop of Blackburn said, “The Diocese notes arrangements for the conversion of civil partnerships into marriage came into effect yesterday. “However, The Church of England’s understanding of marriage continues to be that marriage is the union of a man and a woman for life.”

Lancashire Council Mosques chairman Abdul Hamid Qureshi said: “We have no problem if people want to take advantage of this.”

“If they profess the Islamic faith that is a different matter but if they do not do so, they may live as they please.”