Egypt's first female marriage registrar has started work, despite complaints by some conservative clerics that the move is against Islam.

During her first day on the job, the 34-year-old Muslim woman married a couple in a mosque in the Delta town of Zaqaziq - some 45 miles north of Cairo.

The couple reportedly moved their wedding ceremony, attended by hundreds of people, so they could be married by the woman.

Many conservative clerics believe Islamic law prohibits a woman from becoming a registrar because it states the testimony of two women is equivalent to one man in court.

Therefore they believe a marriage contract signed by a woman would be illegal.