A new trial aimed at reducing tooth decay in under-fives has been launched by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey.

He said the trial would involve a new approach to tackling decay by adding a fluoride varnish to children's teeth.

Around 2,400 children and 50 dental sites across Northern Ireland are to take part in a three-year clinical trial, with a further year to be spent assessing the findings.

The children under observation will also be asked to use fluoride toothpaste at home and will be monitored for tooth decay in a study set to cost £1.7 million.

The minister said: "It is vitally important that we look at new approaches to tackling tooth decay as unfortunately, young people in Northern Ireland have the worst oral health in the British Isles and indeed some of the worst oral health in Western Europe.

"The health service also currently spends around £60 million per year to repair the result of tooth decay.

"Last year for example, 26,500 teeth were extracted from children who underwent a general anaesthetic in hospital for dental extraction."

He said that while the figure was an improvement on previous years, it is still too high.

The comparatively high levels of childhood tooth decay are said to be strongly linked to deprivation.

A five-year-old in Northern Ireland has an average of more than 2.5 teeth affected by decay, while the average figure in the Republic is less than one tooth affected by decay and in England the average is more than 1.5 teeth.