THE question of putting fluoride in Bolton's water has split the town's MPs.

Ruth Kelly and Brian Iddon are backing the move to improve the state of children's teeth, but David Crausby is opposing it.

Bolton West MP Mrs Kelly supports the move for the first time because "studies undertaken in this country contrasting levels of dental decay in comparable fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas have shown a significant additional reduction in the fluoridated areas which can only be attributed to the benefit of water fluoridation.

"It is sad that levels of tooth decay in the North-west are among the highest in the country. It has been made clear that any decision to fluoridate would only raise the levels of fluoride to that which occurs naturally in the water in areas such as Hartlepool and the North-east."

Mrs Kelly was annoyed that the final decision was made not by health authorities, but by water companies such as United Utilities, which had ignored representations from the dental experts and refused to introduce the chemical.

Mrs Kelly said: "It makes sense to ensure that this decision should come from the health authorities, but only after full consultation with local people and local authorities such as Bolton."

Angry

But Bolton North East MP Mr Crausby had grave reservations and demanded a second referendum in the town on the issue, saying he would oppose fluoridation.

Bolton South East MP Mr Iddon, one of the handful of councillors to vote in favour of fluoridation during an angry debate on the issue in the Bolton Council Chamber, was adamant that fluoridation was a good idea.

He said: "I am for fluoride in the water because the dental health of children in Bolton is among the worst in Britain. We need to take action to improve it."

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