Two couples have cleared the first legal hurdle in their bid to challenge a ban on gay marriage in Northern Ireland.

A judge at Belfast High Court has decided a judicial review of the law on same sex marriage can go ahead.

The action is being taken jointly by Grainne Close and Shannon Sickles, and Chris and Henry Flanagan-Kane.

They were the first and second couples in the UK to enter into a civil partnership, after Northern Ireland became the first region to make the option available to same-sex couples in December 2005.