Dental experts are looking at the possibility of adding fluoride to school milk to try to stop children's teeth rotting away.

Bradford regeneration project Trident has funded a feasibility study into the controversial move following a damning report on tooth decay in the under fives.

The research would gauge parental opinion as well as examine effectiveness, cost and supply.

The study into fluoridated milk in primary schools and nurseries is part of a three-pronged attack on tooth decay over the next four years.

The £320,000 programme in the Trident area, which covers West Bowling, Marshfields, and Park Lane, also includes dental registration promotion and educational tooth brushing programmes.

Jenny Godson, assistant clinical director of Bradford Personal Dental Services, which is leading the programme, said 16,000 children in The Wirral and 1,600 in Sheffield were already testing the fluoridated milk scheme.

"We know that fluoridated milk can improve oral health as can tooth brushing," she said. "As to whether the community wants fluoridated milk, it's up to them. We hope to present the positives and negatives and let them make the choice.

"Throughout history, fluoride has been linked to everything from colds to HIV. Some are more serious than others and some are scare-mongering, but the expert bodies have come out and said it's not a cause for major concern.

"If you get too much fluoride, particularly in the years from zero to six, it can cause mottling of the teeth, but any programme we brought in would take account of that. You would not want to be brushing with a high-fluoride toothpaste as well having fluoridated milk."

Shocking statistics released by the Northern and Yorkshire Public Health Observatory in February showed youngsters in some parts of the district had the highest rate of tooth decay in the region.

More than half had suffered tooth decay by the age of five, with an average of four rotten, missing or filled teeth.

Bradford City Primary Care Trust was bottom of the league table with nearly 70 per cent of five-year-olds affected.

Experts blamed non-fluoridation of the district's water supply as well as high poverty levels, poor diet and cultural habits, such as adding sugar to babies' milk.

But in the past critics have branded fluoride as poisonous and linked it to genetic damage and cancer. Campaigners also voice concern about mottling of the teeth, called fluorosis.

Trident health and social care programme worker Sarah Procter said: "Fluoridated milk seems like a really good idea if people agree to it, but we don't want to inflict this on people without going into the facts.

"It's particularly important to talk to parents and schools about the pros and cons of fluoridating milk. Bradford has continuously rejected the idea to fluoridate water because there's a lobby against mass medication. We do need to make sure that we consult with people about their concerns and provide people with accurate information."

In 1992, Bradford councillors voted two to one against adding fluoride to water and Yorkshire Water refused to accept potential risks, referring the decision to parliament.

At a meeting of Bradford Primary Care Trust last week, chairman Mohammed Ajeeb said it was imperative to do more to tackle children's oral health.

"The milk scheme may help, but I think we need to do more to make children and families register with dentists," he said.

Chief executive Lynnette Throp said the rate of children's tooth decay in the PCT area evened out by the ages of 11 and 14.

"Some of the initiatives are starting to show some improvements, but I think we do need more information on why children are at risk early on," she said.