Bradford parents have voted overwhelmingly against adding fluoride to school milk.

In a telephone poll, 92 per cent of callers said no to the move, although dental experts believe it will stop children's teeth rotting away.

The Telegraph & Argus set up the survey after revealing that the regeneration project Bradford Trident had funded a feasibility into adding fluoride to milk in nurseries and primary schools.

Jenny Godson, assistant clinical director of Bradford Personal Dental Services, which is leading the programme to improve children's oral health in the area, said she was not surprised.

"Usually it's the people with strong feelings who respond and the strongest feelings are usually those against, so it's not surprising," she said.

"When we get to our feasibility study, people will be able to make up their own minds.

"We will be giving a balanced view of what benefits they might expect and any negative things they might be concerned about.

"Obviously if we thought there was any harm, we wouldn't be thinking of possibly adding fluoride."

Bradford has the highest rate of tooth decay in the region. More than half the population have suffered decay by the age of five, with an average of four rotten, missing or filled teeth.

The feasibility study is just one part of a three-pronged attack on children's tooth decay in West Bowling, Marshfields and Park Lane over the next four years.

Parents and children will also be educated on oral health and healthy tooth brushing. And project leaders have stressed that parents will be consulted as part of the study.

But George Glasser, of the Wakefield-based National Pure Water Association which campaigns against fluoride, said more and more parents are accessing information about fluoride on the Internet.

He also believes that children's urine should be tested when school fluoridated milk schemes are introduced, in line with World Health Organisation guidelines, as it is a cumulative poison. "More people are asking questions," he said.

Researchers were unable to make up their minds on the benefits of adding fluoride to school milk, he added. "It all boils down to proper education about oral health, tooth brushing and diet," he said.