THE LONG-running debate on fluoridation of Bolton's water supplies has been reignited by leaked government papers.

The documents suggest that health bosses will be given the power to add fluoride to the nation's water supplies to fight tooth decay after an amendment to the Water Bill next month.

The new calls for fluoridation have sparked fears of the health risks which surround the chemical, including cancer, hip fractures and birth defects.

And Bolton North-east MP David Crausby has renewed his plea to the people of the town to make their views on the matter heard. He said: "Adding fluoride to public drinking water without detailed research and information about the potential health risks is totally unacceptable. This is a matter that the public have to shout long and hard about."

Mr Crausby also vowed to oppose amendments to the bill in parliament when it gets its first reading in around four weeks. "The public should decide whether they want fluoride added to their drinking water. It should not be forced upon them."

Bolton held a referendum in 1968 -- when fluoride additives were overwhelmingly voted against -- but Mr Crausby said that a similar public vote this time was unlikely. Dentists say that fluoride in the water supply has had a huge impact on the levels of tooth decay among under fives. Derek Scoular, chairman of the Bolton Dental Committee, said he supported the fluoridation of water supplies. "People who campaign against fluoride do not deal with five-year-old children with toothache. Bolton is one of the worst areas of the country for dental problems. We believe fluoride will make a significant contribution to the dental health of children in the town."

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