THE borough's first same-sex civil partnership ceremony took place on Wednesday between a council chief and his partner of over 30 years.

Rodney Hill, 53, chief executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and Christopher Wright, 50, an equality and diversity adviser, who met at Cambridge University, selected Haigh Hall as the venue for their special, private celebration.

The purpose of the Civil Partnership Act is to enable same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship.

This legislation is a great advance in social justice, recognising the value of committed same-sex relationships and giving equal rights and responsibilities to gay couples, particularly with next-of-kin issues, inheritance, survivor pensions and benefits.

Most of all it gives them security and peace of mind.

The one draw back is, like married couples, if the relationship breaks down they have to go through a dissolution process - like divorce.

To get a dissolution couples must have been in a civil partnership for more than one year and must complete a form called a 'petition', giving the reasons why the civil partnership has 'irretrievably broken down'. Good wishes to every couple taking this sensible step.