THE fight to save imperial measurements reaches the Court of Appeal today with the "metric martyrs" arguing it is customers' basic human right to buy goods in pounds and ounces.

The fight has won backing from the most exclusive pub in Britain, with a collection box sitting on the bar of the Houses of Parliament Social Club and a steady stream of MPs and Lords donating to the cause.

Away from the beady eye of the whips, Labour MPs have been spotted sneaking their loose change into the box that will held fund this week's appeal.

The appeal court bid will decide whether five traders - among them Sunderland market trader Steve Thoburn - broke the law when they abided by their customer's wishes and served them in imperial measures.

If the appeal fails, it could signal not only the death knell for traditional pounds and ounces, but also the pint.

Houses of Parliament Sports and Social Club manager Peter Tate said: "People of all political shades have made donations to the box.

"When I pop down to the market I buy my fruit and veg in pounds and ounces and my customers want to keep buying their beer by the pint.

"We are right behind the metric martyrs. They are defending a British way of life."

Mr Tate asked for a collection box for the bar when metric martyr defence fund co-ordinator Neil Herron, from Sunderland, was invited to speak to Parliamentarians.

Mr Herron is now busy sending collection boxes to shops, market stalls, pubs and clubs throughout Britain in case it is necessary to take the case beyond the appeal courts and on to the House of Lords.

Mr Herron, a fishmonger, faces prosecution for selling prawns by the pound. He is a close friend of the original metric martyr, Sunderland market trader Steve Thoburn - convicted of selling a pound of bananas to an undercover trading standards officer.

"It is a disgrace that traders are being criminalised simply for serving customers in the way they want to be served," said Mr Herron.