Britain's first "metric martyr" Steven Thoburn is to stand against Peter Mandelson at the General Election.

The Sunderland market trader, who was yesterday convicted of selling his fruit and veg only in pounds and ounces, will represent the Imperial Weights for the British People party.

He's the latest in a string of challengers who may take on ex-Northern Ireland Minister Mr Mandelson in his Hartlepool constituency.

National Union of Mineworkers leader Arthur Scargill and former Tory MP Neil Hamilton, unseated at Tatton, Cheshire, by Martin Bell, are also considering throwing their hats into the ring.

Thoburn, 36, is considering an appeal against his conviction.

He was given six months conditional discharge for breaching Weights and Measures regulations by District Judge Bruce Morgan sitting at Sunderland Magistrates.

He said: "I accept he is a decent hard-working man and he did what he did because he believed he was right.''

Thoburn was found guilty in an historic case set to shape the future of Britain's weights and measures system.

The ruling backs the precedence of European legislation over British law.

Father-of-two Thoburn was accused of breaching the Weights and Measures Act 1985.

It was amended to bring it into line with European Union legislation which became effective on January 1 last year.