The Green Party is calling on Brighton and Hove City Council to back a ban on adding fluoride to drinking water.

Preston Park councillor Richard Mallender said there was no evidence that fluoridation reduced tooth decay and said mass medication without consent should be outlawed.

He said: "Not allowing the people a choice in whether their own tap water is fluoridated is a clear breach of the European Convention on Human Rights and Medicine.

"Fluoride is more toxic than lead and only slightly less so than arsenic and it should not be forced on people."

The Government proposes ending the right of water companies to veto a health authority decision to add fluoride, in an amendment to the Water Bill.

Coun Mallender said most countries did not fluoridate drinking water and many of those that did have now stopped.

The Green Party has tabled a motion at next week's full council meeting calling for a ban and for the chief executive to write to Southern Water and Sussex and Surrey health bosses expressing the authority's opposition.

Fluoride is not currently added to drinking water in Brighton and Hove.