As someone who is keen to foster closer ties with our colleagues in the European Union, I am continually frustrated and angered by the so-called metric martyrs.

The emotive language they use would seem to indicate they think a world war is approaching and any modern ideas should be automatically dismissed.

The new laws are simple and provide for an alternative. If someone wants to buy in pounds or kilogrammes, that option should be open. Imperial measures are not being banned. The martyrs seem to forget that.

They seem to think the British will lose their collective identify if we have closer links with our European neighbours.

What nonsense. The Irish, Welsh and Scots have lost none of their patriotic fervour for being part of the union of our home nations, called the United Kingdom. Why should it be any different with a United Europe?

The UK is no longer a major power. We must now be a team player to compete with other major economies.

I was never taught imperial measures at school. Yet all my life I have had to retain a knowledge of an antiquated system of measurements in order to relate to my fellow Britons, most of them older.

Let's haul ourselves into the modern era, just as we did in 1971 when decimalisation of currency came about.

-James Barber, Courtlands, Haywards Heath