A GREENGROCER claims Government plans to force him to sell fruit and vegetables in metric quantities will put him out of business.

Malcolm Bassant, who runs the Fruit Shop in West Street, Sittingbourne, says his customers are forcing him to defy Government regulations demanding British shopkeepers comply with EU legislation.

He still advertises goods in pounds and ounces, although he uses scales with metric capabilities, because consumers in Sittingbourne demand the imperial system.

He said: "Customers won't let you do anything else. If you stand in here you will only get one customer a day ask for kilos.

“I can't use kilos because you can't do any offer in them as the quantities are too big."

Prospective Tory parliamentary candidate Gordon Henderson said a leaked memo from the Local Government Association (LGA) calls on councils to "recommence their enforcement of metrication regulations". This means prosecuting shopkeepers.

Other Sittingbourne shopkeepers said they are facing similar problems.

Paul Saulsby, assistant manager at JC Rook & Sons, said: "Ninety per cent of our customers want pounds and ounces so we have to convert quantities ourselves."

And Bryan Day, manager at Dewhurst Butchers, added: "We have a card at the back of our scales to help us convert quantities because customers won't accept the metric system."

Clive Bainbridge, head of Kent County Council's trading standards, said the LGA can not force council's to prosecute shopkeepers.

He added: "There is no legal barrier to local authorities taking action against traders who fail to comply with the law, but we will be taking a low key approach to this issue."