A GWENT politician is "fully backing" a village's fight to keep its school open.

Speaking at a public meeting about the proposed closure of Argoed Primary School, Assembly Member Irene James said campaigners were not contemplating defeat.

"Argoed has had an excellent inspection report," she said. "We are all being very positive."

The 50 villagers at the meeting on Friday night were united in their desire to save the school.

A decision is expected on its future within the next few weeks, following a period of public consultation. Campaigners have also collected a 600-name petition calling for the school to remain open.

Argoed Councillor Allen Williams said: "We are all fighting to keep it open. If this school closes the heart will be ripped out of our village."

Concerns were raised about the village losing its sense of community if children went elsewhere for school. Leon Gardiner, a Blackwood councillor who lives in Argoed, said: "We don't want a village where the children don't know each other.

"People here wouldn't survive without the children being around. We need a village where young and old live together."

He said he thought the number of children in the village was likely to increase in the next few years.

"I have never seen so much building going on in Argoed in all my life," he said. Mrs James added: "The houses in Argoed are affordable and this is the sort of area where families with children move in. Life is all about seeing young and old together and this is a proper Welsh community."

The school has 49 pupils, including the nursery class, with 18 surplus places. The numbers have been predicted to fall in the coming years but villagers dispute this.

Plans are now being made for the final stage of the campaign to keep the school open.