After three centuries in its current position next to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park the zero latitude line is to move 31 metres to the left.
A European Community panel of two French Judges and one German Judge decided that the line painted on the ground is in the wrong place as European diplomats re-adjust the lines of latitude to make them straight instead of curved.
The line will be painted in its new position crossing between the white plastic tables of the Greenwich Park Tea Room next April.
Another ruling means the line will now be yellow because that is the international latitude line colour and will be exactly 3.57cm wide. Any variance would be illegal and the government could face a three million Euro fine.
