A county clerk in Kentucky has been sent to jail for refusing to grant marriage licences.

49-year-old Kim Davis says she is doing it on religious grounds in protest at the US Supreme Court's legalisation of gay nuptials.

Ms Davis has been held in contempt of court - with a judge telling her she will be locked up until she complies with his order to issue the licences.

"You can't be separated from something that's in your heart in your soul," Ms Davis said, according to the BBC.

"I promised to love Him with all my heart, mind and soul because I wanted to make heaven my home."

The judge, US District Judge David Bunning said he had "no alternative" to imposing a custodial sentence.

"Her good faith belief is simply not a viable defence," said Mr Bunning.

"Mrs Davis took an oath. Oaths mean things."