FURIOUS campaigners must keep waiting for a decision on the future of their local school.

The fate of Ponthir VC School was expected to be decided by education minister Jane Davidson in January after a series of delays. A six-month decision deadline set by the Assembly passed in the middle of December.

The council voted to close Ponthir along with Pentwyn primary in Abersychan last June.

Campaigners expected a decision on the proposal at the start of this month, when the closure of Pentwyn was confirmed.

But the anxious wait for parents and teachers on whether Ponthir VC School is to close or become a faith school and keep its doors open will continue into February after the Assembly said they were still not ready with a decision.

Ponthir governor Howard Thompson has written to the education minister to complain about the delay.

"Another delay is totally unacceptable. They don't seem to be aware of how anxious everybody is," he said

And yesterday William Graham, Assembly member for South East Wales, threw his weight behind the campaigners' cause.

In a statement, he described the wait as "unacceptable and unbearable" for parents.

He said: "I will be raising this matter with the Minister to highlight how unbearable a strain has been placed upon the community of Ponthir." The school is due to close in July this year if Ms Davidson approves the council proposal. Campaigners are concerned the continuing delays will affect potential pupils from considering the school.

Mr Thompson said: "We obviously want the right decision but we need to know where we stand."

A Welsh Assembly spokeswoman said: "We endeavour to respond to the local authority proposals within six months of them being published. However, there can be occasions when the data takes a little longer to assemble."