As metric martyr Steven Thoburn prepared to do battle for pounds and ounces yesterday, it was revealed he had been involved in a dispute of a different kind.

The 36-year-old greengrocer arrived at Sunderland County Court to continue a test case about the use of imperial measures at his market stall.

The case will last for two days before being adjourned until April for judgement.

However, today, Mr Thoburn is due in another court in the same building to answer charges arising from a pub brawl.

He and wife, Leigh Thoburn, 27, are accused of causing harassment, alarm and distress to others following an incident at Sunderland's Harbour View pub, at the weekend.

During a scuffle, which spilled out into surrounding streets, it was claimed a pregnant woman was assaulted.

Police arrested Mr and Mrs Thoburn, both of Association Road, Roker, Sunderland, on Sunday night following reports of a disturbance at the pub.

Two other customers have been cautioned for their part in the incident and another person has been bailed until next week, pending further inquiries.

Both cases involving Mr Thoburn are due to take place in courts a few yards from each other in Sunderland Magistrates Court.

The weights and measures case is seen as vital to those campaigning for the right of traders to choose how they sell their goods.

Yesterday, the prosecuting barrister in Britain's first court case against a trader accused of selling his goods in pounds and ounces said the nation's traders were legally bound to abide by Euro directives.

Eleanor Sharpston QC, heading Sunderland City Council's prosecution of Mr Thoburn for breach of weights and measures legislation, told Sunderland Magistrates Court that Mr Thoburn's defence barrister, Michael Shrimpton, a constitutional expert, was like a "magician" whose display looks good on face value, but on closer inspection does not stand up.

Mr Shrimpton has maintained that Acts of Parliament cannot be overturned by European directives and that Mr Thoburn is entitled to sell his fruit and veg in imperial weights.

Mr Thoburn has denied two charges of contravening the Weights and Measures Act 1985, which carries maximum fines of £1,000 on each charge.

The prosecution got under way in January this year, but was adjourned after it ran over the allotted court time