ACTOR Edward Fox and singer Elaine Paige have offered their support to "Metric Martyr" trader Steve Thoburn in his fight to sell goods in pounds and ounces.

The stars are backing a campaign to save the imperial measure, after the Sunderland greengrocer was convicted of selling bananas by the pound.

Mr Thoburn, and four other "Metric Martyrs" from around the country, will lodge appeals this week against the convictions for serving customers in pounds and ounces.

Meanwhile, a list of patrons headed by Fox and Miss Paige are calling on the public to support the Metric Martyrs Defence Fund for legal fees.

Fox was so incensed when he heard of Mr Thoburn's prosecution that he sent a donation and agreed to be a patron of the fund.

Other supporters include Stirling Moss, Sir Patrick Moore and Lord Tebbit.

"It touched a raw nerve when I heard a trader in Sunderland was being prosecuted simply for selling a customer a pound of bananas," said Fox.

"A row over a pound of bananas may seem unimportant but, in fact, it is frightfully important. We really do not need rules and regulations like this. I do believe the British people just want to get on with their lives as they wish, without harming anyone and without having ludicrous rules forced upon them."

Miss Paige also sent a donation and goodwill message after reading about the Steve Thoburn case and agreed to become a patron.

Fund coordinator Neil Herron, a fishmonger who is facing prosecution for selling prawns by the pound, is confident the public will respond.