MORE than 100 parents gathered in a fight to save their village primary school last night.

The community of Argoed was in fighting spirit as parents and residents crowded the school hall for a consultation meeting with Caerphilly council, which is proposing to close Argoed Primary next year.

The authority says the school is projected to have a deficit of £30,036 by 2007/8 and that it has 18 surplus places.

It says the school meets four criteria for closure.

But parents are demanding the school - "the spirit of the community" - must be saved. Parent Ian Craig said the school recently received an outstanding inspection report.

"The report said it is a good school with no significant shortcomings and an outstanding factor was the good support and guidance given to pupils," he said.

"And it said the school gives good value for money. We must make sure every effort is made to prevent the closure of this excellent school."

Many pupils would transfer to Markham Primary if Argoed were to close. Julie Maloney asked how pupils would get to Markham, as most would not be entitled to transport to the school.

"Ninety five per cent of us don't come into the criteria for transport. Our children will be walking to Markham - is that improving their standards?" Resident Olga Bunston said: "If this school goes, then the spirit will go out of our village."

Islwyn MP Don Touhig sent a message of support to retain the school, saying it was a "valuable and supportive community".

Bob Howells, the council's assistant director of education, said the school's results were below the local authority and Welsh averages, and that the recent inspection report outlined problems withaccommodation - with no direct access outdoors for under-fives, no running water in classrooms and limited space for physical education.

"We understand your anxieties and anger. It would be unusual if there was not such a response," he said.

Councillor David Hardacre, cabinet member for education, said an assessment of the children's route to Markham would be carried out if a decision is made to close Argoed - and a bus provided if the route was unsafe.