FOURTEEN Gwent gay couples have become civil partners since legislation came into force in December - and more than 30 more are planning to follow suit.

Alan Haines and Darran Richards were among the first to be joined in civil partnership in a ceremony at Newport Register Office on December 21.

The couple, who have been together for 18 years, were determined to make use of the historic new legislation on its first day of operation.

Darran, 42, a former Risca Comprehensive School pupil, said the reaction from the majority of people has been supportive.

"I was worried about what people would say mainly because many of my old school friends didn't know," he said.

"But most people have been supportive and some old school mates even contacted me through the website Friends Reunited to congratulate me and say how happy I looked."

The 39-year-old hit back at critics, who after the story about their civil partnership was reported in the Argus, wrote into the paper to express their disgust.

"You have got to respect their views but they have got to get into the 21st century because things are different now," he said.

Alan and Darran, of Corporation Road, Newport, looked into getting married ten years ago but Alan did not want to fly to America for the ceremony.

Alan, a former Duffryn High School pupil who is now a nurse at St Woolos Hospital, finally popped the question at the beginning of last year.

Civil partners will, for the first time, have the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual married couples, regarding next-of-kin, benefit, inheritance and pension rights.

Civil partners will be required to register the partnership in front of two witnesses, as with married couples, but they will not be required to have any sort of ceremony.

A ceremony will consist of a spoken commitment, with the exact words decided by the couple.