CAMPAIGNERS bidding to retain imperial measurement claimed a small victory in the North-East.

A member of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which is behind the "Guard the Yard" campaign to preserve traditional British measurement, spotted what he claimed was an "illegal" pedestrian information sign in Durham City.

Solicitor Tony Bennett, political assistant to UKIP leader Jeffrey Titford, was on a speaking engagement in the city, when he saw the black-and- gold direction pointer on Elvet Bridge, which reads: "Oriental Museum/Botanical Gardens 1.5km".

Mr Bennett brought it to the attention of Mr Titford, who wrote to the city council, pointing out that it breaches the 1994 Traffic Signs Regulations, which state that all pedestrian distance signs must be in miles or yards. Mr Titford said: "There are two issues. First the city council is breaking the law, and the second is that by far the majority of people understand miles rather than kilometres.

"This even includes the majority of younger people, even though most of them have been metric-educated.

"The British mind, young or old, thinks in terms of miles and yards, not kilometres and metres."

A city council spokeswoman conceded that use of the kilometre measurement on the sign "was an error" and would be remedied. Asked if the sign would be taken down, she said: "It is an option".

She said: "We are also carrying out a review of all pedestrian signs in the city to ensure they give clear up-to-date directions for all."