It's all gone bananas

10:49am Tuesday 23rd May 2006

FURIOUS market traders in High Wycombe have hit out at European plans that will stop them selling their produce in pounds and ounces or be slapped with a £5,000 fine.

Law makers in Brussels want to see imperial measurements banned from market stalls in Britain to come in line with the rest of Europe.

The move, which comes into effect in 2010, will see pounds replaced by kilograms on every sign selling bananas, potatoes and carrots.

Anyone caught even mentioning the price of their fruit or veg by the pound could be made to pay.

Stall holders have warned almost all their customers that still use "old money" measurements and have no idea what a kilogram is.

Tony Burgess, from the Wycombe Fruits stall, said the idea just does not weigh up.

He said: "Ninety-nine per cent of the public want things sold to them in pounds. When we first tried it four years ago we took a quarter of our usual sales. It is a load of rubbish, nobody has a clue what you are talking about when you talk about kilos."

Until the new law comes in, traders are allowed to advertise their products in pounds and ounces as long as they also show the metric equivalent.

But in four years' time they will have no choice and everyone will have to get their head around the idea of buying apples and spuds by the kilo.

Shawn Rutter, who sells meat from Geraghty's Meat Auction in High Street, said: "We have the metric measurements but when we are selling we talk about the price per pound. The only people who want things in kilograms are foreigners. I do know the measurements but my customers don't."

Tony said: "Why do we have to do what Europe wants? They have never done anything for us. Americans still buy things in pounds and get their petrol by the gallon. We should be following them, not Europe."

The British Weights and Measures Association (BWMA), with celebrity members such as Jools Holland and Antony Worral Thompson, wrote to Tony Blair last month to protest.

David Delaney, from the BWMA, said: "We are still waiting for a reply from Blair. Imperial measurements are very popular. They are a part of every day life."

Tell us what you think. Call reporter Paul Leat on 01494 755091 or email pleat@london.newsquest.co.uk

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