The French Senate has voted to legalise same-sex marriage there. It puts the Bill on track to become law by this summer.

The vote in the upper house of parliament came despite boisterous protests. Mostly conservative and Roman Catholics opponents have sought to defend traditional marriage.

Both houses of parliament will now take up a second reading to consider minor changes to it. The bill was passed in February by the National Assembly.

It would allow gay marriage and let same-sex couples adopt children.

The move is being seen as the most important social reform in France since the 1981 abolition of the death penalty.

France joins 11 other countries including Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Norway and South Africa where same-sex marriage is legal.