THE Government has promised Bolton residents a second referendum on the issue of fluoridation before the controversial chemical is added to their water.

The assurance was secured by Bolton North East MP David Crausby from Health Minister Yvette Cooper.

He was concerned that campaigners in favour of the practice -- said to protect children's teeth -- would try to bring it in despite the opposition of many local people.

A previous vote in the borough on fluoridation resulted in a decisive rejection of the procedure and it never took place.

Mr Crausby -- a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fluoridation, which campaigns against its enforced introduction -- wrote to Mrs Cooper.

She replied: "I appreciate your concern about public involvement in decisions on fluoridation.

"I can assure you that we would not expect any area to fluoridate without having undertaken a public consultation which established that the measure was strongly supported."

She said a special review of the practise was being considered by ministers who would then make recommendations to help authorities on how to go about consulting the public and introducing the practise where it got popular backing.

Mr Crausby said: "The people of Bolton can rest assured they will be consulted before any decision to fluoridate their drinking water is made.

"Public involvement in decisions of this nature are what we are entitled to expect, and if necessary demand.

"Since my election to Parliament in 1997, I have regularly received letters concerning fluoridation from all over Bolton. The vast majority of the letters have been strongly opposed to fluoridating our water, as has the regular flow of letters to the BEN from its readers.

"This clearly demonstrates to me that the public are extremely knowledgable in the issue of fluoridation. It is clear that the majority of people do not want this substance added to their drinking water without their permission."

Mr Crausby, who forwarded all the letters to Mrs Cooper, said: "I am delighted with the Minister's positive response.

"The pro-fluoride lobby use the argument, that the lack of artificial fluoride in our water will damage children's teeth, and claim that those like myself who defend the public's right to decide are labelled as not being interested in improvements to the oral health of children. This is, of course, absolute rubbish.

"As democratically elected politicians we must listen to what the people say, because the public's view on what their water contains cannot be ignored."