THE NUMBER of gay couples who tied the knot in Reading the year same-sex marriage was legalised has been revealed.

In 2014 12 male couples and five female couples walked down the isle, compared to 690 opposite sex partners.

Reading's gay community outdid Slough and Bracknell Forest, where three and nine same-sex couples joined in wedlock, but fell short of West Berkshire and Windsor and Maidenhead's 21 a-piece.

In the South East Brighton and Hove topped the list, with 135 gay partners saying 'I do'.

One couple who have yet to get married but entered the second civil partnership in Reading, on January 30, 2007, are Robin and Philip Coxhead.

“We will have been together for 37 years in June,” explained Philip in their china ornament filled West Reading home.

“We are joined at the hip,” Robin continues. “We work, live and spend 24 hours a day together.”

When they aren't cleaning the offices of Reading, Robin and Phil spend much of their time arranging, tidying and sculpting their enormous garden.

Recently a friend gave them a number of coy carp, prompting the couple to build a 20 foot pond to run alongside their small army of gnomes and assorted garden figurines.

Although they did not immediately jump at the chance to get married when legislation came into force on March 13, 2014, it is currently on Robin and Philip's minds.

Robin said: “We are definitely thinking about it. It gives you a lot more security. I hear so many stories about a partner passing away and the other half is chucked to one side as the family take everything.”

“It's worth it,” Philip, who proposed to Robin, continues. “It brings you closer together and gives you more to aim for.”

With the addition of two rescue dogs and budgerigars to their home, it seems the big day may have to wait for a while.

“We have said that we want to do something special, but we just haven't had time to get round to it yet,” Philip concludes.