THE first British trader to be prosecuted for selling solely in pounds and ounces announced plans to appeal against his conviction last night, claiming overwhelming public support for his cause.

Father-of-two Stephen Thoburn, from Sunderland, announced his decision after it was revealed that a Metric Martyr campaign fund set up in the wake of his prosecution had topped £100,000 in public donations.

Campaigners estimate that an appeal at the Divisional Court in London could cost as much as £500,000, but are confid-ent of hitting their target.

The landmark legal case over his sale of a 34p bunch of bananas to a Sunderland City Council trading standards officer is regarded a test case which could ultimately decide the future of Britain's weights and measures system.

The 37-year-old market stall holder was prosecuted by the council for breaching the Weights and Measures Act 1985.

District Judge Bruce Morgan, who presided over the trial at Sunderland Magistrates' Court, found Mr Thoburn guilty and imposed a six-month conditional discharge.

Mr Thoburn, of Association Road, said last night: "People have asked me to pursue this further, not for any political party, but for customers and people in the street.

''All I want to do is serve people the way they want to be served.''

The Metric Martyrs have 12 weeks to raise the costs of the defence.

Campaign manager Neil Herron said: ''We want upwards of half-a-million to make sure there's no threat to his home, family or business.

''If we get that, and I'm confident we will, this will go all of the way."

A spokesman for Sunderland City Council said it was awaiting legal papers in the light of Mr Thoburn's decision, but declined to comment further.