ARE the traditional British pints of milk and beer in danger?

Fears for our historic measures have been raised as the European Parliament is due to vote on Thursday on whether or not we should convert from imperial measurements to metric.

This has led some people to express concern for our pints of milk and beer, and loaves of sliced bread.

But European officials have moved to pour cold water on the suggestions.

Godfrey Bloom, a local Euro-MP for the UK Independence Party, said: "Slimy mainstream politicians will say we don't need to worry, but we do."

Mr Bloom, who is based near Selby, added: "The pint of bitter is what our fathers and forefathers drank. It is part of our heritage."

Instead of pints we could be buying half litres, or possibly litres. But it is feared that prices would remain the same, resulting in customers paying pint prices for half-litre quantities, conning the customer out of 64 millilitres.

Timothy Kirkhope, Yorkshire Conservative Euro MP and leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, was also against the plans. He said: "My whole delegation will vote very strongly against this. We do not need this from Europe."

York's Westminster MP, Hugh Bayley, said: "In my view, Europe should not meddle in things that ought to be settled independently within each member state.

"People in Britain are well aware of what a pint is, and so I see no need to change."

Milkmen and bakers would have to adapt - prompting fears about possible costs. Milkman Alan Short, 61, from Fulford, York, said: "It could be tremendously expensive. Besides, it would see the end of glass milk bottles which, compared to plastic containers, are far easier to recycle."

But European officials moved to allay these fears, saying the dire predicted consequences may be avoidable, through an opt-out clause.

Jennifer Hutton, spokeswoman for the European Commission, said: "The UK can definitely opt out, even if the legislation goes through."

Simon Duffin, European Parliament spokesman, moved further to allay fears that we will soon be deprived of our pint, saying European Commission and European Parliament have never held such plans. He said: "There is no question of the pint being under threat."

Updated: 11:15 Tuesday, January 31, 2006