The moment Gillian Townsend-Lewis laid eyes on Kim Carrington she knew she would marry her one day.

However, she has had to wait more than seven years to do so as same sex couples were unable to tie the knot legally at the time the pair met.

From December 10, parliament approved a change which meant those in a civil partnerships were given the option to convert their union into marriage.

Gillian and Kim, of Avery Way, Allhallows, wasted no time in booking up their conversion and completed it at Medway Register Office, Rochester, on Wednesday afternoon, making them the first couple in the Towns to do so.

The conversion was in direct contrast to their civil partnership in September 2012 at Cooling Castle when both wore traditional white dresses and were surrounded by family and friends before heading to Gran Canaria on honeymoon.

They regarded that as their wonderful day so on Wednesday it was just the two of them in casual clothes with the registrar talking them through the change.

But it was still a hugely important moment for them. Gillian said: “It is what we have always wanted and it is magical to finally have a marriage certificate in our hands.”

Gillian, 39, and Kim, 52, both work as security officers and say they are inseparable.

Gillian said: “It was instant for me. I knew the moment I saw Kim I was going to marry her one day.

“It was gut instinct and in my heart I just knew I loved her.

“The first thing I remember about her was her patent shoes, they were so cute.”

The couple who love going on holidays together, socialising with friends, and partying, say they do everything together.

Kim, who has two grown up children and three grandchildren, added: “We love each other and do everything together.

“We knew we could get married from December 10 and we booked up straight away when we knew the date, we tried to get the 18th, the same day (of the month) as our civil partnership, but we couldn’t get a slot then, so went for the 17th.”

The couple wondered if they would be the first in Medway to convert. Kim added: “We talked about it on the way and said wouldn’t it be lovely if we were and then the registrar, Pam Strevens, who also officiated at our civil partnership at Cooling Castle, told us we were.

“It was fantastic and made the day even more special.

“We are having family and some friends round to celebrate with us later.”

James Brown, superintendent registrar of Medway, added: “We were delighted Gillian and Kim chose us to host their conversion and we are looking forward to welcoming more couples in the coming months to do the same.”