ALEX Hastings urges me to "put another record on", by which I assume she means she would like me to stop repeating the uncomfortable truth that Bolton's young children suffer three times more tooth decay, and have three times more teeth extracted than Birmingham youngsters because Birmingham's water has been fluoridated for almost 40 years, and Bolton's water is not fluoridated.

I will be very happy to oblige Alex -- when there is no longer any need to keep repeating it. Until then, I will waste no opportunity to repeat loud and clear that it is unacceptable for Bbolton children to be denied the benefits of fluoridation which generations of Birmingham children have had for almost 40 years. It is unacceptable that Bolton children continue to suffer avoidable pain and distress from tooth decay and tooth extractions when we have a proven safe and effective measure to prevent it.

Boring or not, I for one believe the health of our children is important enough not to give up.

Sheila Jones MPH