A PLAN to close a Gwent village school did not take into account all of the costs of moving pupils, five opposition councillors claim.

Now the group of Plaid Cymru and Independent councillors on the education scrutiny committee have united to "call-in" for review the Labour-controlled Caerphilly council cabinet decision to close Argoed Primary School near Blackwood.

Caerphilly cabinet voted unanimously last Thursday to close Argoed school, despite an impassioned campaign by villagers who said losing the school would "rip the heart" from their village.

The decision will be reviewed by Caerphilly council mayor John Bevan, a Labour councillor, and monitoring officer Ian Medlicott.

If they decide the call-in was justified, the decision will be referred to the education scrutiny committee. The process will not necessarily change the decision to close the school.

If it is decided no further action is necessary the decision will go to Wales education minister, Jane Davidson, who makes the final decision on school closures.

The councillors were asked to call in the decision by parents from the Save Argoed School Committee.

Their campaign involved public meetings and a 600-name petition.

The councillors claim the council report sent to cabinet recommending closure, which said it would save Caerphilly council £70,000 annually, was not properly costed.

If the school shuts in September 2007 pupils are expected to transfer to Markham Primary School.

But the councillors say the cost of transporting them was not included in the report. They also argue Markham primary's 16 spare places would not be enough for Argoed primary's 53 nursery and primary pupils.

Some rooms could be converted into classrooms but they say this was also not costed.

Four of the councillors who have called-in the decision are Plaid Cymru councillors - Allan Pritchard, Lindsay Whittle, Phil Bevan and Anne Collins, while one is an Independent - Kevin Etheridge.

Councillor Pritchard said he wanted the decision to be called in because unlike the fully Labour cabinet, the education scrutiny committee has members from all political parties.