Pupils at the tiny Bethlehem Primary School have been dealt a Christmas blow with news that the school will be closing.

The six pupils at Bethlehem near Llangadog, west Wales, have been told that the school is being shut for "social reasons".

The children will be moved in the new year to a new school nearby.

Carmarthenshire County Council denied that financial reasons had anything to do with the closure.

Coun Meirion Thomas said it was better for the children to mix and learn with a larger group of pupils at another school.

"Bethlehem will be pretty empty on the square now," he said.

"In every small village, the school is the heart of the community.

"Carmarthenshire council is not closing any schools because of a funding crisis," Coun Thomas added.

"We do believe that when you only have six or seven children in a school they do lose out on taking part and mixing with other children."

'Sad time'

Mum Helen Rickman said: "It is a sad time for the village and for the children.

"It has been difficult. The children are sad that the school will be closing."

Father Adrian Davies said he believed Bethlehem was the best school in the area.

"The pupils get plenty of opportunity to learn in all subjects and the teacher has enough time for all the children.

"The only thing that it might be lacking in is team events."