THE FIGHT is on to save a Gwent school from closure.

Angry parents and community leaders met last night to thrash out how to secure the future of Trevethin Community School, in Pontypool.

Around 50 people agreed to form an action group and take the fight to the National Assembly, which decides the final outcome.

Penygarn and St Cadoc's councillor Mike Davies opened the meeting. He said: "We are in for a huge fight and we have got to prepare for a fight.

"People are so passionate about the school we have to bring this to the attention of the National Assembly."

Last week Torfaen council's cabinet voted in favour of recommendations to shut the school, blaming a falling pupil roll.

Pupils will be sent to West Monmouth and Abersychan schools instead if the Assembly gives the final thumbs up.

Parents have now formed an action group to save the school. School governor Arthur Attwood was elected chair of the meeting.

His four children attended Trevethin and he said: "Trevethin has got the potential. It is not failing and it was recently named as one of the most improving schools in the area."

Parent Linda Foxwell said the school turns out successful pupils.

"My daughter Jamie-Leigh is studying forensic science at Glamorgan University," she said.

"Pupils are getting decent grades and are going on to do well. The school has reversed the trend of pupils dropping out and only wanting to have children."

After the meeting, Mr Attwood said the school was the victim of a lack of investment by Torfaen council. He added: "Our ultimate mission is to get investment back into Trevethin School and to increase pupil numbers."

"We will lobby the Assembly hard to save the school. We will have buses going down there, protests, everything.

"If you take all the feeling that is up here in Trevethin against this closure they won't have a fight on their hands, they will have a civil war."

A meeting of Penygarn and Trevethin parents will be held at Penygarn Junior School, on Thursday at 6pm.