THE battle for the right to serve metric beer in a Worcester theme pub could be taken to Brussels, the pub's owners warn.

The Austrian owners of The Cardinal's Hat, in Friar Street, said they would fight to the end for the right to sell their drink in genuine litre and 0.5 litre Austrian flutes.

Landlady Andrea Schutz said the pub had been overwhelmed by media attention since the Evening News broke the story that Eurocrats had insisted its beer should be served in pints.

Since Monday's exclusive story, Euro-friendly drinkers have been flocking to Worcester's oldest pub to sign a petition protecting its rights to serve beer in metric measures.

"We have been surprised with all the attention and in the last few days we have had about another 200 signatures," she said.

"We'll take this all the way to Brussels if we have to."

So far, around 500 people have signed the petition, but, despite the EU ruling, Ms Schutz said Worcestershire County Council's Trading Standards department had been helpful.

"They are trying to find a solution to this problem," she said.

Partner Anton Limlei said he had been impressed with the way the people of Worcester had come out in support of them.

"People really believe in what we are doing," he said.

"We've spent a lot of money here and just want to run a business."

Cardinal's Hat regular and close friend Mark Young, who lives in Malvern Road, St John's, said the owners had reacted well to the setback.

"At first Andrea was upset, but I think both she and Anton have taken great heart in the way that everyone seems to be backing them," he said.