Pints, miles, pounds and ounces have been saved, after the European Parliament voted to scrap indefinitely plans to impose the metric system on the UK.

The phase-out of the imperial system, due next year, will be put off indefinitely, allowing traders to sell items by the pound and ounce, provided they also display the metric equivalent, The Times reports.

The possibility of an EU climbdown first emerged when European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry Gunter Verheugen called the so-called 'metric movement' pointless.

Attempts by the Germans, French, Estonians and Austrians to force through the movement failed to gain sufficient support among EU member states.

It was a victory for common sense, said John Denham, the Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary. "People in Britain like their pint and their mile. They should be able to use measures they are familiar with."