THE North-East greengrocer dubbed the Metric Martyr for fighting EC measurement regulations has died of a heart attack.

Stephen Thoburn, who lost his battle to sell his goods in pounds and ounces only, collapsed at his home in Sunderland early yesterday. He was 39.

Mr Thoburn, who leaves a wife and three children, achieved international prominence after he was prosecuted by Sunderland City Council's trading standards department in 2001 for offences under the 1985 Weights and Measures Act.

He fell foul of the law because his scales did not weigh goods in both imperial and metric

Along with traders in other parts of the country, he took his case to the High Court and House of Lords, arguing that EC law could not take precedence over British law, but was unable to overturn his conviction, which had earned him a conditional discharge.

Last night, his friend and campaign manager, Neil Herron, said his death had come out of the blue and left everyone who knew him deeply shocked.

He said: "He collapsed and died at home at 6am. He was with his wife. It is just unbelievable.

"At 39 you don't expect this. I saw him on Friday and he was full of it, he was upbeat and was going out for a meal after work.

"The phones have never stopped. Tributes have been coming from all over, non-stop."

He said Mr Thoburn was an extraordinary man who stood up for his principles.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be made, but Mr Herron said: "There won't be a church big enough in the North-East.