BLACKBURN has seen a boom in marriages this year.

According to council bosses, notices of marriages and civil partnerships served at King George’s Hall show people are travelling from across the country to tie the knot in the town alongside couples choosing to wed closer to home.

Experts say the trend could be a result of people seeking greater stability at a time of uncertainty.

Figures released by the council showed an increase of 431 ceremonies, from 263 between 2008 and 2009, to 694 between 2009 and 2010.

Linda Comstive, director of legal services, said: “The improved facilities at the refurbished register office have made it a very popular wedding venue.

“It is also one of only a few in the country which has been designated as a place where the full range of notices of marriages and civil partnerships can be served.

“Couples from all over the country come here to serve the notice of intention to marry and once they have seen the facilities, many have chosen to marry here too, before returning to their homes elsewhere in the country.”

Professor Cary Cooper, a social scientist at Lancaster University, said the reported rise in marriages and civil partnerships since the onset of the economic downturn made sense.

He said: “If you’re feeling insecure, as people are now, then they are going to want to try to bring some stability to their lives.

“During a period of economic growth, when you have a more entrepreneurial climate, people are more me-oriented.

“But when times get tough, and you are out there on your own, you are going to look more for security in relationships.”

There has also been a rise in people taking part in Citizenship ceremonies, up from 268 last year to 523.

Ms Comstive said: “The Government has recently introduced a policy of citizenship ceremonies for people who are applying to become British citizens.

“In order to do so, they have to show that they know about the life in the UK and this can be done in a number of ways including taking ESOL and citizenship classes.”