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They support proposals to treat milk in schools in the Health Action Zone areas of Manchester, Salford and Trafford to help meet targets to reduce tooth decay among five year olds.

Last year the CHC declared its backing for water fluoridation as the single most effective measure against tooth decay and pledged to keep pressing for action on this.

Currently a Brush Bus project is operating to develop links with pre school groups in north Manchester along with a fluoride varnish project to coat children's teeth.

The CHC believes these initiatives may be made redundant by proposals to fluoridate school milk in the hope of making sure 70 per cent of five year olds are free from tooth decay.

School-based trials in Glasgow in 1984 reported a 31% reduction in tooth decay among 11 year olds after five years drinking 200 ml of milk containing 1.5mg of fluoride every school day.

Already there are some 16,000 children drinking fluoridated milk in the north west and in Manchester school milk is consumed by 82% of infants and 43% of juniors

Under the proposed system schools will be able to opt out of the programme as will individual children and the scheme can be stopped immediately if water fluoridation becomes an option.

Public health departments in each health authority will identify the schools and nurseries to be targeted and schools and parents will be consulted.

Money from the Health Action Zone will be sought to fund milk coolers in schools as research has found children find warm milk unpalatable and chilled milk increases uptake.

A CHC official said: "The most effective way to deliver fluoride is through the water supply. At present this option is not available. Alternatives have to be considered one of which is fluoridated milk.

"The charges for it do limit take-up and it would be preferable to re-introduce free milk.

"We want to see continued concerted pressure for fluoridation of the water supply. It is important to raise the issue again with political representatives, councillors and MPs."