PUPILS at two schools have plenty to smile about because they attend the only two schools in Darlington with fewer than a third of pupils who have no bad teeth.

Darlington is the fifth worst area for dental decay in under- fives in the North and Yorkshire region.

But Middleton St George and Cockerton Church of England primary schools subscribe to a scheme which provides subsidised milk for pupils at morning breaks.

Dr David Landes, a consultant in dental health with County Durham and Darlington Health Authority, said milk with fluoride would be one way of improving children's teeth.

Mary Chadwick, headteacher at Middleton St George Primary School, said: "We don't have a tuck shop and have a policy of no sweets in school. Children can have fruit instead."