ASSEMBLY education minister Jane Davidson will receive a very special Christmas message from an Abergavenny infants school.

Winging their way to Cardiff Bay will be three cards designed by pupils from Park Street Infants School, Abergavenny, appealing to her not to close the school.

Monmouthshire county council has earmarked nine schools for closure, including Park Street, but the final decision will be taken by Ms Davidson in the New Year when consultation is completed.

Governors at Park Street, one of two Abergavenny infant schools issued with closure notices, held a competition to design a card for the minister.

Parent governor Caroline Miles said: "The children had started talking about why they don't want their school to close, so we decided to ask them to design a card.

Governors chose a card to represent each year group, and the winners received prizes from the mayor of Abergavenny, Councillor Alan Breeze, himself a former Park Street pupil.

Abbie Williams-Price won the reception class prize with a card showing Father Christmas and a tree. Her card carries the message: 'We like our school, the teachers are nice and it's fun. Please don't close it,' a combined message from all the pupils in her class.

Lauren Jones was the winner for Year 1 and her card has the message: 'We want our school to stay open so our brothers and sisters can come here'.

Trafford Squires won the Year 3 competition, and his class message was: 'Our school's brilliant, they can't make one better'.

* In the picture: With their protest cards are, from top, Trafford Squires, Lauren Jones and Abbie Williams-Price.