David Cameron 'backs gay marriage in church'

Legislation to allow marriage for same-sex couples will also allow churches to conduct ceremonies, sources close to PM David Cameron say.

Ministers will announce their response to a consultation next week and MPs will be given a free vote on the move.

The original consultation document said it would not be possible for a same-sex couple to get married in church.

But the government is now expected to allow denominations who want to conduct gay marriages to do so.

Whitehall sources say that in order to properly protect those groups opposed to same-sex marriage, they will have to allow groups such as the Quakers to opt in.

The move will anger some Conservative MPs who have always opposed the change in the law and who have argued that it would lead to churches being forced against their will to marry gay couples.