TWO lesbians were the first gay couple to be unofficially "married" at York Register Office.

Jane Smith, 29, a health care assistant, and partner Jo Kitching, 26, were joined together at the commitment ceremony watched by family and friends.

The couple, who recently moved to Leeds from York, exchanged vows and rings at the ceremony.

Although the service is not legally binding, for the couple it means that they have committed their lives to each other.

Jane, who met Jo at a drop-in centre in Leeds in 1998, said it was the next best thing to getting married.

"I look upon it as our wedding day," she said. "We've both suffered a lot of trauma in our lives but we're now very happy together."

Jo said: "It's a really special day for us. We're both making a life-long commitment to each other."

City of York Council's superintendent registrar, Robert Livesey, said they took the decision to hold the commitment ceremonies as many more gay couples wanted their relationships to be publicly recognised.

"The ceremony doesn't have any legal standing," he said.

"But in the future it is very likely there will be legally-recognised married ceremonies for gay couples."

Jane's mother Barbara, from Burnholme, York, said: "Jane and Jo have known each other for a long time. It's a very happy day."

Updated: 10:51 Monday, April 05, 2004