A couple yesterday shared their London register office wedding ceremony with relatives and friends around the world, by means of the internet.

In a first for the registry at Brent town hall in north London, Ravi Ram, 38, and Mamta Patel, 24, paid £37.50 for a 15-minute ceremony that was viewed via the internet by Mr Ram's sister, Doorga, a student in Mauritius. And Miss Patel said friends in the US were also watching online. "It was nice for people who could not get here," she said.

The couple, who had 30 conventional guests, will also have a Hindu wedding in Wembley at the weekend. They are both from Harrow, and met while working at a private residential home.

Brent's chief registrar, Mark Rimmer, who conducted the ceremony, said: "I expect this will be extremely popular, particularly as it will be at no cost to the couple."

Whenever a couple ask, the register office's webcam will be switched on; anyone can log on to future weddings at The brent council website

Staff and agencies