Llanelli could become the first town in Wales to offer "weddings" for gay couples if a pressure campaign pays off.

Carmarthenshire County Council said it will consider offering civil partnership services to same-sex couples.

Trades Union Congress is lobbying the town's register office to lay on the services, which do not constitute formal marriage in law.

Metropolitan areas of England and Scotland already offer the special ceremonies. But no offices in Wales have made provisions.

The Church In Wales and Church In England currently preclude marriages for gay and lesbian couples.

Gay couples in London have been able to demonstrate their commitment in a civil partnership service, offered through the London Partnership Register, since September.

Germany legalised gay marriages in August 2001

Manchester became the first city outside of the capital to offer the services and Scottish registers have followed suit.

Debbie Rees from Llanelli, who chairs the Wales TUC's gay and lesbian steering committee, is campaigning for the town to adopt the same kind of service.

"We are very much behind England and Scotland on this issue," she said.

"It would be fantastic if Llanelli was to become the first town in Wales to move into the 21st Century and recognise gay and lesbian couples who want to show how much commitment means to them."

Carmarthenshire County Council's head of statutory services, Peter Jones, said: "It is something we would have to consider."