Rebel butcher Dave Stephens has received backing from a Euro MP in his fight against being forced to go metric from January 1.

Dave, who runs Mandy's Chop Shop in Leigh with his wife Mandy, has vowed to defy the latest edict from Brussels for all shops to sell in grams and kilograms weight measurements in the new year.

He was backed in his fight by Eastern Region MEP Jeffrey Titford, of the UK Independence Party, whose constituency includes south Essex.

Mr Titford pledged his party's support for Mr Stephens' fight having launched its own campaign against the British Government's decision to impose the new metric ruling from Europe on shops and supermarkets.

His political assistant Tony Bennett said: "Dave Stephens is a true Brit who is fed up with us cow-towing to Europe.

"He faces a fine of up to £5,000 if he is taken to court and convicted, and we will arrange for him to have free legal help from a barrister should he be prosecuted.

"We will also help towards paying any fine from a special fund we have set up, and if all else fails Mr Titford will take his case to the European Court of Human Rights under the freedom of expression laws."

Mr Stephens, 54, said he was prepared to go to prison rather than convert to metric, and has started a petition in his shop against the new law - so far he has more than 2,000 signatures.

He said: "It's nice to know I have the support of the UK Independence Party, although I wouldn't have paid any fine. I would have gone to prison. But their help and support is very welcome, they have been very helpful.

"All of my customers are behind me in my fight, because they feel like me - that there is nothing English left for the Englishman. I am determined to see this fight through to the bitter end, because once I start something I have to finish it."

"We are fed up with Europe dictating to us, and we have to start standing our ground. We've had enough."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.