Around 60 parents and children protested at the council's offices

Under the plans, 14 schools would close or be merged, due to falling pupil numbers.

The council said that it had to address the 1,600 empty places that were estimated to be in its schools by 2006.

Council leader Rhiannon Hughes emphasised "that no final decisions have been taken" and that they wanted to fully consult with communities.

Under the plans, 10 schools would be closed or merged in a first phase and another four in a second phase.

Denbighshire has a clear vision for the development of education... with specific improvements to buildings and plans for new schools Council statement

Three new schools would be built in Prestatyn, Ruthin and Rhyl.

Ms Hughes said the council understood rural concerns and would listen to what people had to say.

"Many communities consider that rural schools play a role in community life that far exceeds that purely of education," she said.

Denbighshire Council has 52 schools under its control, but said it faced overcrowding in some coastal schools and empty places in others.

About 60 parents with children protested at the council's Ruthin headquarters over council plans for primary education.

Bryneglwys school would close under the proposal

"I think it's disgusting the way we've been treated," said Arwyn Vaughan whose children have all attended Ysgol Pantpastynog in Prion.

"It's better for the children to have small classes, they get more attention and they're not distracted," he added.

Under the proposals, primary schools in Carrog, Rhewl, Llandegla Bryneglwys, Bodfari, Llantysylio, Glyndyfrdwy and Prion would close.

Gwaenynog and Heulfre are earmarked for merger.

In addition, a question mark hangs over the long-term future of Clocaenog and Cyffylliog schools - but that coincides with a scheme to open a new Welsh-medium school in Ruthin.

Schools likely to be affected Carrog Rhewl Llandegla Bryneglwys Bodfari Llantysylio Glyndyfrdwy Prion Gwaenynog Heulfre

There are also plans to build new schools in Rhyl and Prestatyn.

Bryneglwys residents said the village had lost many of its facilities in recent years.

Their 19-pupil school shares some lessons and a head teacher with neighbouring Llandegla, and parents fear their children would have to travel eight miles to Corwen.

Community councillor Paul Anyon said the school was threatened with closure about 20 years ago when he was a pupil, but the authorities were persuaded to keep it open.

"We've got to do the same for this generation of children," he said. "Otherwise our village will die."