Parents said they will fight any closure decision at Llangurig School

Around 150 people attended a meeting in Llangurig, mid Wales, to hear Powys Council's consultation of its review of the 108 small rural schools in the area.

With just 24 pupils, Llangurig is in a group of 10 schools which have been earmarked for possible closure.

However, the chair of the school's governors Kath Gower, said the fight by villagers to keep the school open was gathering pace.

"The feeling was very strongly against closing the school at the meeting," said Mrs Gower.

"People were absolutely against the proposal and are prepared for a fight."

Placards calling for the school - housed in a Victorian building but recently having undergone major redecorations - to remain open have been placed on roads around the village.

Small schools under threat Llangurig- 24 pupils Llandinam - 35 pupils Libanus - 19 pupils Trecastle - 15 pupils Howey - 30 pupils

Mrs Gower said that although the school roll is small, it is fairly stable and a new housing development promised to bring more young families to the area.

"We're against the closure of small schools in general," she said.

"They provide an excellent education for our children."

Parents of pupils at Llangurig are co-operating with parents from nearby Llandinam who are also fighting closure proposals.

Pupils at these two schools would be transferred to either Llanidloes or Caersws schools.

Powys Council's director of education Michael Barker is visiting all the county's schools as the authority looks for a blueprint for the next 10 years.

In a statement, council chairman Councillor Tim Van-Rees said: "The plans are not driven by budgets but the authority has to look at the quality of its provision and the sustainability of that provision for the good of all future Powys children."

The review follows a call by the Audit Commission for local authorities to consider closing schools which are too big for the number of pupils they serve.

Powys Council currently has a �27m maintenance backlog for its schools.

"Unless the Welsh Assembly Government increases its revenue support grant to take account of the level of support required to sustained services in sparsely populated areas, then the authority will be forced to increase the level of council tax to take up any shortfall," said Mr Van-Rees.

Even if the council decides to close any of its schools, the decision could be called in by the Welsh assembly.