Registrar says 'I won't' to gay weddings and sues council over ceremonies which offend her religious beliefs

The woman, a devout Christian, is taking action against Islington Council, saying the civil partnership ceremonies she has been asked to perform are against her religious beliefs.

More than 300 homosexual couples a year have been tying the knot in the North London borough since the ceremony became legal in 2005 – but the unnamed registrar has refused to take any part in them.

Her stance has escalated into a full-scale dispute with her employers, who she is now taking to an employment tribunal, in the first case of its kind.

When the Civil Partnership Act came into force on December 21, 2005, the council, which was then Labour-controlled, celebrated in style, naming the day Pink Wednesday and giving town hall staff pink buttonholes to wear as they served champagne to guests.

The first gay couple to "marry" at the imposing building were Islington council employees Viktoria Kingsley, from New Zealand, and Fiona Dunning, from Australia.

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Actor Sir Antony Sher also made the commitment to his long-term partner, theatre director Greg Doran, on the first day.

Speaking on the Islington Town Hall steps, Sir Antony said it was an historic day not just for the gay movement but for human rights.

"I feel very proud this is happening in this country and that we can be part of the very first group to have it done," he said.

Since then, more than 600 gay couples have tied the knot in Islington, making it Britain's third most popular borough for the ceremony, just behind Kensington and Chelsea and top-placed Westminster.

A wedding at Islington Town Hall carries much of the pomp of a traditional church ceremony.

Guests are encouraged to dress as they would for a religious service, and the elegant wedding room boasts marble floors and arched ceilings.

More than 18,000 civil partnerships took place in Britain in 2006, with the numbers thought to be still rising.

Registering as civil partners gives same-sex couples the same tax, employment and pension benefits as married heterosexual couples.

But the legislation provoked protest from evangelical Christians, who said it devalued the sanctity of marriage.

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Among high-profile gay couples who have formalised their relationships in the last two years are Sir Elton John and David Furnish; Little Britain star Matt Lucas and Kevin McGee; and Labour Health Minister Ben Bradshaw and BBC producer Neal Dalgleish.

Last night Islington Council, which is now Lib Dem-dominated, confirmed the tribunal was pending but refused to give any further information.

In a statement, it said: "A claim has been made to an employment tribunal which Islington Council is defending robustly. The council does not intend to comment further."