Moves to give adoption entitlement to gay and lesbian couples have been defeated in the House of Lords.

The government has vowed to overturn the Lords amendments when the Adoption and Children Bill returns to the Commons.

Peers voted by 196 votes to 162 to keep the existing ban on unmarried couples, including gay partners, adopting children.

Twenty Labour peers, 48 crossbenchers and two bishops supported the Conservative amendment to the bill.

Jacqui Smith, the social services minister, said: "Given the strong views of the House of Commons on this issue, the government intends to allow another free vote once the bill returns to the House of Commons."