Kay Mason Billig, Conservative leader at County Hall, said Mr Streeting needed the dried fruit - considered a way to relieve constipation - to end the 'blockage' holding up a decision on the University of East Anglia dental school.

Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig (Image: Denise Bradley)

There remains doubt over when the under-construction school - seen as key to solving the county's dental crisis - will be able to take on its first students.

There had been hopes the first students would be able to enrol in September next year, but the process to allow that has not started, so it now looks like it will be September 2007 before the first undergraduates can begin their training.

© Eastern Daily Press