THE heads of opposing camps over controversial plans to add fluoride to the water supply of nearly 200,000 Hampshire residents have met for the first time.

The meeting comes as preparations step up ahead of a three-month public consultation on the proposals, which will start on September 8.

The exercise - which will include drop-in events and Question Time-style debates - has been put back from mid-August at the request of local authorities.

The board of South Central Strategic Health Authority, which will oversee the consultation and make a final decision on fluoridation, agreed to use the delay to change educational material to include more of the arguments against fluoride.

The plans have been put forward by Southampton City Primary Care Trust (PCT) as a last-ditch attempt to solve chronic dental health problems, particularly in more deprived areas.

Health chiefs say around 15 per cent more children would be free from tooth decay if the amount of fluoride in the water is increased, as happens in some other areas of the UK and countries like Ireland, Australia and the US.

But anti-fluoridation campaigners argue it is wrong to force indiscriminate mass-medication on the population, and say there is evidence to show it is linked to health problems.