TWO butchers in Bare are taking on the might of the European Union government for the right to use pounds and ounces.

The EEC commission have made it an illegal offence to display goods with imperial measurements - instead they have to use metric.

But John and Stephen Fretwell on Princess Crescent have launched their own campaign to keep British measurements.

And so far they're receiving overwhelming support from their customers. They already have more than 360 signatures on a shop petition and have turned their shop into a shrine for the cause. They have two placards in the window and favourable newspaper articles in the shop itself.

John is also an independent city councillor for parks ward. He explained why he and his brother had taken their one shop stand: "This isn't a big deal for bureaucrats in Europe but it is for us and for many other small businesses like us.

"It would cost us thousands of pounds to convert our machinery but that's not the main point. We've lots of customers who have been dealing in imperial all of their lives. It's not really a problem for us but what's the point in making life harder for them. Why can't they just leave us alone to get on with it. We have our differences with Europe in this country and why not? As I say it's a big deal for us."

And his customers agree. One woman said she was used to metric measurements because she'd lived in Sweden for ten years but added: "They seem to making up rules which aren't really needed. Instead of bothering us with this they should try doing something which might actually make life easier."

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