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UK civil partnership torch lit in IoM

Couple celebrate unique legal recognition

History has been made in the Island today, as a man and woman from London became the first UK-based heterosexual couple to enter into a civil partnership.

Claire Beale and Martin Loat who have been together for 25 years and have two children, flew in for the ceremony in Douglas - as the Isle of Man is the only place in the British Isles where opposite sex couples can form the legal union.

Their case is expected to trigger further visits here by couples who want their relationships formally recognised but do not want to marry.

We caught up with Claire and Martin at their wedding breakfast in a Strand Street cafe:

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