HEAD teachers have been caned by a health boss for allowing fizzy drinks machines to be installed in East Lancashire secondary schools.

Dr Gary Whittle, consultant in dental public health for the East Lancashire Health Authority, said he appreciated that hard-pressed schools needed the money, but said: "I look on these machines just the same as if they were cigarette machines.

"It is wrong to get money from people by depriving them of their health."

Drinks machines are a normal feature in schools throughout Blackburn, Burnley, Rossendale, Hyndburn, Pendle and the Ribble Valley.

Schools keep a proportion of the cash, but Rossendale councillor Michael Cruise accused them of running "a planned tooth decay programme for profit".

Dr Whittle urged Rossendale's environmental health committee to join the campaign to improve the state of children's teeth in the Valley.

A national survey of dental health put Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale bottom of the league for tooth decay in children. Rossendale Council has consistently opposed adding fluoride to the water supply.

Dr Whittle told councillors this was the most efficient and cost-effective way of improving dental health, but urged other measures, including cutting down on sweets, visiting the dentist once a year and brushing teeth twice a day.

He invited the council to nominate two members to attend a special dental health think-tank, along with councillors from Burnley and Pendle and representatives from the health authority, to try to improve the area's appalling record.

The survey showed that 14 year olds in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale had an average of almost four teeth either decayed, missing or filled - more than double the national average.

Coun June Forshaw said primary schools had led the way with healthy eating and dental health programmes and the county council should urge secondary schools to take the same line.

Dr Whittle said he encouraged all schools to have a tuck shop policy, to monitor the food children brought into school and to discourage the eating of sweet things outside mealtimes.

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