The distraught gay partner of Soho nailbomb victim John Light will not receive a penny in compensation - because of his sexuality.

It was revealed today the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board does not give payouts to anyone other than "those living as husband and wife".

And a spokesman today confirmed the Board did not consider that to mean same sex couples.

John Light, of Mill Street, Colchester, was killed in the blast in London's theatreland on April 30.

His boyfriend Gary Partridge, who he lived with, was injured in the blast's fallout and spent weeks receiving treatment in Chelmsford for horrific burns.

The bomb also claimed the life of Colchester mum-to-be Andrea Dykes and left her husband Julian in a coma for three weeks.

He came round in a London hospital to discover his 27-year-old wife and unborn child had been killed on the fateful day in the Admiral Duncan pub.

Mr Dykes, 26, of Taragona Mews, Colchester, should expect to receive several thousands of pounds for the loss of his loved one whereas Mr Partridge, 34, will be left empty-handed.

He told a national newspaper today he was not interested in the money but it was the principle that was at stake.

A spokesman for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board - an agency for the Home Office - admitted today that a gay lover would not be entitled to a payout under the existing rules.

He said they were periodically updated, but the last time they were reviewed, in 1996, no mention was made of same sex couples, and the rules which were first introduced in the 1960s were largely unchanged.

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