The British government said it was "disappointed" with Bermuda on Thursday after it revoked same-sex marriage rights for its citizens, but said it was not appropriate to block the move.

The government came under pressure from MPs to explain why it had given its assent to the legislation, which reverses a Supreme Court ruling last year giving same-sex couples the right to marry.

The legislation was signed into law on Wednesday by the island's governor, the British diplomat John Rankin.

It replaces the right of the island's 60,000 citizens to enter same-sex marriages with a "domestic partnership", which is available to couples of any sexual orientation.

Mr Rankin said he had made the decision "after careful consideration in line with my responsibilities under the Constitution," but declined to comment further.

It makes the territory the first in the world to introduce and then revoke same-sex marriage rights, equality campaigners said.

Following the announcement, MPs from across the Commons floor demanded to know why Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, had approved the move.