Same sex couples in Northern Ireland are able to convert their civil partnerships into marriage from Monday of this week.

More than 30 couples are expected to make the change initially.

Under legislation that came into effect on Monday more than 1,300 same sex couples will be able to convert their partnerships into marriage.

Such civil partnerships have been legal in Northern Ireland since 2005 but it was only earlier this year that same-sex marriages were permitted.

That same legislation allowed complementary-sex couples to also engage in civil partnerships.