CAMPAIGNERS fighting the proposed closure of a Catholic school in Newport are hoping to lobby a leading churchman and sing to him in a bid to save it.

St David Lewis RC School Bettws Action Group wrote to Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith asking for a meeting.

As head of the diocese he has the final say on whether the school is saved. It is also organising a petition and a protest walk against the proposals.

The Roman Catholic diocesan commission is considering closing Newport's smallest school, which has 84 pupils, because of the number of spare places.

But the action group, made up largely of parents, say their children are happy at the school and they want them to have the option of a Catholic education.

Parents and children at St David Lewis want to meet the archbishop and sing for him.

In his letter, action group chairman Mike Ryan writes: "This, we hope, will show you that we are a caring group and our cause to keep the community spirit of Catholicism in Bettws is a just one."

Parent Juliet McInerney said: "We are not going to give up without a fight." The city council, held an informal consultation at the school. Parents were invited along to give their views about the proposal to close put forward by the diocese.

If it is decided to recommend the school should close, protestors will have two months to object.

The nearest Catholic school is St Mary's, Queen's Hill, which is about three miles away.

But Pat Ryan, chairwoman of the governors at St David Lewis, says there might not be room for all of the transferred pupils there.

There are currently 65 spaces for children at Catholic schools in Newport. The protest walk will be held on April 19 at 10am. It will begin at the school and end at the Riverfront, Newport.