A HEALTH trust could soon add its voice to the lobby pushing for the fluoridation of local water supplies.

The controversial move aimed at stopping the rot in children's teeth comes as a survey shows 12-year-olds in the area have some of the worst tooth decay in the country.

The English Dental Health League Table puts East Lancashire 94th out of 99 health authorities.

Although the figures showed an improvement from the last survey carried out five years ago, East Lancashire still has much higher numbers of children with poor dental health than the national average. Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale are the worst areas in East Lancashire and the primary care trust will debate the problem at a meeting tomorrow.

They could urge the Department of Health to take the action needed to allow fluoridation of the water supply.

The matter has already been discussed by Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT which was broadly in favour of fluoridation but has asked for more information before it joins the British Fluoridation Society. It will discuss it again at a board meeting later this month. Public health dental consultant Dr Gary Whittle said: "A range of measures is needed to improve dental health in the North West in general and in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale in particular.

"On a population level, fluoridation of the water supply stands out as offering the most efficient and cost-effective way of improving dental health.

"The health authorities in the West Midlands are at the top of the league table primarily because they have had fluoridated water supplies for 40 years."

Dr Whittle admits there is "vociferous opposition" to the scheme but say there is no evidence to link it to cancer, bone disease or any other adverse health effects.

However, local councils and Burnley Community Health Council have traditionally opposed what they see as "compulsory mass medication."

Other fierce opponents include the National Pure Water Association and the North West Councils Against Fluoridation.

Health chiefs say they will recruit support from the public, councillors and MPs and representations will be made to the Government and North West Water.

They say a range of measures are needed to improve dental health in the north west in general and in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale in particular.