Wedding cake celebrating gay marriages. According to official predictions, some 22,000 people will sign so-called civil partnerships between now and 2010 in Britain, giving them the same rights and privileges as married, heterosexual couples. (AFP)

Gay couples began registering for civil partnerships at town halls across Britain on Monday as a law took effect giving them many of the same legal rights as married heterosexuals.

Although the law stops short of allowing same-sex couples to marry, many said they were still eager to claim the benefits and official recognition of their relationships - for which some have waited decades. The Times of London marked the day by publishing notices of "gay marriages" for the first time.

"We're absolutely delighted," said 80-year-old John Walton, registering in London with his partner of 40 years, Roger Raglan. "It's enormously important to us that we should be able to state to everyone that we are partners."

The law, passed last year despite some opposition from Parliament's unelected House of Lords, permits civil ceremonies that will give same-sex couples the same social security, tax, pension and inheritance rights as married couples. Prime Minister Tony Blair's government dropped the word "marriage" from its legislation rather than run afoul of lawmakers who feel the word has religious connotations.

Among the first to register Monday were pop star Elton John and his filmmaker partner David Furnish, whose official proclamation was posted alongside those of other impending weddings and partnerships at Maidenhead Town Hall, west of London.

After the mandatory 15-day waiting period, the couple plan a private ceremony at Windsor's 17th-century town hall, where Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in April.

(Agencies)

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