CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a Gwent school from closure marked its 30th birthday and vowed keep it open for another 30 years.

Ponthir Primary school faces the axe because education chiefs at Torfaen council want to cut the borough's number of surplus places.

But protesters say the school is the heart of their community and they are fighting the proposal with the backing of local Labour parliamentary candidate Huw Edwards and Conservative candidate for Monmouthshire, David Davies.

On Saturday generations past and present gathered at the school to celebrate 30 years of history, including former head John Coker, as well as both Mr Davies and Mr Edwards.

Campaign spokesman Sue Sheppard said: "We're hoping very much for another 30 years of excellent education.

"We're fighting on, and are determined to win."

The council estimated there will be 2,500 empty desks by 2008 - one in four primary school places.

The figure currently stands at more than 1,600, and costs the LEA £360,000 a year.

Torfaen council voted to consult on a programme of amalgamation and the closure of three schools - Ponthir, Pentwyn and Brookfield primaries.

Schools were chosen by assessing the quality of teaching, pupil performance, and the number of surplus places.

Ponthir scores highly on teaching standards and pupil performance, but the education department says 44% of its places will be surplus by 2008.

Nancy Davies, who was one of the first teachers at Ponthir in 1975, said closing the school would take the heart out of the village.

She added: "This campaign has really made the community a lot stronger - we don't want to lose our school.

"It really was a wonderful party, very successful, and there must have been over 200 people there."

Mrs Davies was accompanied by her son Robert, a former pupil, and grandson Matthew, aged five, a current pupil.

Chairman of Ponthir community council Jenny Nancarrow said: "It was a marvellous afternoon, and it went on well into the evening.

"At the moment we are looking at our options from a legal standpoint, and we have raised a substantial amount of money for the campaign."