Europe's Industry Commissioner Gunter Verheugen said: "There is not now and never will be any requirement to drop imperial measurements."

European Union commissioners have ruled that Britain can carry on using imperial measurements such as pints, pounds and miles.

The decision will not affect current law on metric measurements, but means imperial equivalents can be used too. It follows years of wrangling between London and Brussels over metrication.

Picture: Steve Thoburn made headlines around the world over his campaign.