Britain's lawyers and judges are to break with centuries-old tradition and cease wearing white horse-hair wigs in non-criminal cases

new dress rules would mean the wigs, which British legal professionals have worn since the 17th century, would not be needed in civil or family court cases

Wing collars and bands -- white cotton strips worn round the neck -- can also be dispensed with in such cases according to the reforms, while judges will need just one gown in future instead of a variety of colorful outfits currently required

At present High Court judges have no less than five different sets of working dress, depending on the jurisdiction in which they are sitting and the season of the year

A review carried out in 2003 found that more than two thirds of respondents wanted to eliminate the wigs in civil cases, although most said criminal court judges should still wear them

Opponents of wigs thought they were anachronistic

the idea of abolishing them has met with disapproval from some lawyers