1 in 8 children suffering from tooth decay 'due to too much sugar'

Leicester has the highest number of three-year-olds with tooth decay, according to a health report.

Public Health England (PHE) identified four regions where young children were most likely to have rotting teeth:

• The East Midlands
• North West
• London
• Yorkshire and the Humber
• The lowest was South Gloucestershire where just 2% of children suffered from the problem.

One in every eight tots in England suffers from tooth decay because they are eating too much sugar, health officials have warned.

Public Health England (PHE) found 12% of three-year-olds in England were damaging their teeth because their parents were frequently giving them sugary foods and drinks.

There was a stark variation in dental health across the country - a third of three-year-olds had rotting teeth in some parts of England, according to PHE's first national survey of the oral health of young children.

However, in some parts only 2% of children suffered from tooth decay.

Experts examined the teeth of more than 50,000 youngsters at their nursery, children's centre or playgroup during 2012/13

Read: Rotten teeth 'top reason for child hospital stays'