Elton wants to 'marry' his partner

Music legend Elton John has said he would like to "marry" his lover David Furnish.

Elton said he looked forward to the day when same-sex civil partnerships became lawfully recognised in Britain.

"I'm totally for it. In this day and age, if people who want to make a life commitment can't have protection, then we live in a pretty sick world," he told the New York Daily News. "I would like to commit myself to David. I already have in my mind anyway."

Elton was married before; he went down the aisle with Renate Blauel in Australia in 1984, but the marriage only lasted four years.

Elton, 56, and Furnish, 40, have been together for 11 years. The pair are also business partners.

On Valentine's Day, the pop star had giant inflated roses released into the sky above Las Vegas as a sign of his love for Canadian-born Furnish.

A UK Civil Partnerships Bill is currently passing through Britain's Parliament, which will give gay couples greater rights and protections.

Many same-sex couples currently do not get the same protection as married couples, in areas such as inheritance, pensions and benefits.

Elton said: "We're definitely going to do it when it gets passed."