That rose to more than two-thirds of youngsters aged 15-18 and even

That rose to more than two-thirds of youngsters aged 15-18, and even 37 per cent of four to six year-olds.Levels were highest in Scotland, where 66 per cent of youngsters had tooth decay; they were lowest in south-east England, where 44 per cent of children’s teeth were rotting.Researchers found “significantly higher” levels of decay among children whose parents were manual workers, living on benefits or where the mother had no formal qualifications.More than a third (35 per cent) of all youngsters had unhealthy gums and four out of 10 had plaque on their teeth. And 40 per cent of teenagers aged 15-18 were suffering from the gum disease gingivitis, where the gums bleed.Soft drinks made up the largest proportion of sugary foods consumed and accounted for most of the acidic foods eaten by youngsters. Boys aged 15-18 gulped 337g of fizzy drinks – just over a can – every day, while girls drank just 239g.Younger children were more likely to favour squash drinks, while teenagers drank more fruit juice and fizzy drinks. Children whose parents are on benefits or those in single-parent families were more likely to drink cans of pop.

Children in the north of England are the biggest consumers of sugary foods and fizzy drinks.Despite their sweet teeth, two-thirds of children were aware that sugary foods caused tooth decay. And two-thirds said they cleaned their teeth twice a day, with girls more likely to brush morning and night than boys. Nearly one in 10 four to six-year-olds had never visited a dentist, but by the age of 11, 99 per cent had had a check-up. By age 15, only one in five still had a mouth free of fillings or extractions.Health minister Lord Philip Hunt said: “In general terms, children’s teeth are improving.

However, most dental disease is preventable and many of the findings of the report reinforce key existing oral health promotion messages.”. Everybody’s getting in on the Kensington thing. South Ken, Ken High Street, West Ken, North Ken, even the mayor got in on the act Alas, no movie. “Many family houses in Notting Hill are commanding higher prices than Kensington,” says Andrew Philips of Hamptons estate agents.

“But celebrities such as Madonna, Jeremy Irons and [racing driver] Eddie Irvine are being attracted to quiet, backwater streets in Kensington.”

Everybody’s getting in on the Kensington thing. South Ken, Ken High Street, West Ken, North Ken, even the mayor got in on the act Alas, no movie. “Many family houses in Notting Hill are commanding higher prices than Kensington,” says Andrew Philips of Hamptons estate agents. “But celebrities such as Madonna, Jeremy Irons and [racing driver] Eddie Irvine are being attracted to quiet, backwater streets in Kensington.”
“People will buy because it is Kensington, and by buyers I mean end users, investors and overseas purchasers, as well as developers,” says Jonathan Holman, sales and marketing director of Regalian’s Point West, which has recently released the final penthouses at its massive Cromwell Road conversion Kensington, he says, “is one of the top three London areas” Notting Hill is not on the list.

The other two are Mayfair and St John’s Wood.”Kensington is the one key spot developers look for,” says FairBriar chief executive Philip Van Reyk, whose Stanhope Gardens is sprucing up another patch of Cromwell Road. FairBriar acquired a terrace of 11 large, listed, stucco-fronted houses with a rich planning history. Originally destined to be redeveloped into offices and then an apart-hotel, consent has been given for 70 apartments, tilting the flat-house ratio even further toward the former.It makes sense to build flats as Mr Van Reyk says although an 8,000sq ft house in Kensington would sell for around £6m, there is a wider market for the flats at around £300,000 to more than £1m.”Kensington has been a popular area since the early 1700s, when the properties in Kensington Square were built to house the courtiers of Kensington Palace,” says Tim Wright of FPDSavills.”The area was a base for royals and Kensington Palace Gardens is the most prestigious and expensive street in London.” Some of London’s best known private schools, such as Lady Eden’s and St Thomas’s, are in the area, he says, and there are “better transport opportunities than, for example, neighbouring Chelsea, for those who rely on public transport for work and also those who need to get to Heathrow frequently or to country houses in the West”.Mr Wright says “49 per cent of our buyers work in the financial sector and several streets, such as Argyll Road, are almost entirely occupied by bankers”. But Rupert Wiggin of Lane Fox says: “Our research shows we are getting buyers in other sectors such as information technology, and we are not as reliant on the City for our buyers as in the past.”Mr Holman has also noticed a shift in the profile of first time buyers: “Today they are 30 years old versus early twenties a decade ago. More landlords are offering short leases, whereas previously there were fewer landlords mostly wanting longer leases.