An increase of £50 on the cost of gay weddings has been scrapped a day after it was announced.

The Argus revealed yesterday how members of the gay community were outraged at the proposed rise for civil commitment ceremonies, while the marriage ceremony fee remained the same.

Protests were made to Brighton and Hove City Council by two gay councillors, Liberal Democrat Paul Elgood and Simon Williams, of the Greens.

The increase, branded a tax on gay couples, was withdrawn after Labour finance spokesman Simon Burgess admitted it had been a mistake.

He said: "We will immediately amend our proposals to delete this saving. The proposal only represents £2,000 in extra income on a long list with much bigger figures on it. I must have mistakenly assumed it was an inflation increase.

"Ken Bodfish made it clear last year we would charge the same as for marriages and that is Labour's position."

The plan, which would have gone before the budget council meeting next week, was to charge £155 for couples who wished to have their relationship officially recognised instead of the £97.50 charged for official marriage ceremonies.

Coun Williams said the 50 per cent increase would hit the gay community hardest as it was the only ceremony available to gay couples who could not legally get married.

The ceremony is open to heterosexual people but so far all 60 couples who have had one since they were first offered in November 2002, have been same-sex.

Coun Williams said: "It's a relief the council has backed down and admitted it made a mistake.

"The council recently signed up to the national campaign for full legal partnership rights for same-sex couples, so it would have been hypocritical to do this while raising its own charges."

Sales director Phil Barber was also pleased to hear the news.

He and his 30-year-old partner Steve Hullock had been planning a commitment ceremony but the pair were reconsidering having it elsewhere after hearing of the price rise.

Mr Barber, 41, said: "I am absolutely delighted the council has decided to retract the price increase.

"It looks as if Steve and I will be able to carry on making plans to have our commitment ceremony in Brighton - somewhere I have had the greatest pleasure to call home for the past 20 years.

"It is warming to know people's opinions can still be taken on board in order to have ridiculous decisions overturned.

"It's just a shame it had to crop up in the first place at all."

The Government's Relationship Bill would give gay couples the same legal rights as straight couples.