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

The villagers from Llandegla and Bryneglwys met on Thursday night to plan their campaign.

Denbighshire council has announced it is considering closing or merging 14 rural schools.

The authority said falling pupil numbers meant there would be around 1,600 empty places by 2006.

It said 10 schools would be closed or merged in a first phase, and another four later on.

But parents, who met in Llandegla to plan their next step, denied that numbers are were falling at their school.

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

About 40 parents discussed an action plan. They said they needed a new school to be built in the village.

Parent Paul Anyon, from Bryneglwys, said they would lobby local politicians.

"Although there are two sites, Llandegla and Bryneglwys, we are the same school and we want to be one unit," he said.

"The children are happy, some go from Bryneglwys to Llandegla and then from Llandegla to Bryneglwys to learn and it's working fine as it is."

Sandra Williams Blythin, from Llandegla, added: "I think that if the school closes then the village will die. Without a school there is no village�and people will start moving away."

Campaigners are urging other parents to study the council's proposals and to write in with their opinions.

They also plan to lobby councillors at a cabinet meeting at the council headquarters on Tuesday.

Denbighshire council has insisted no final decisions have been taken and has promised to consult with all those affected.

If the proposed closure and merger plans go ahead, three new schools would be built in Prestatyn, Ruthin and Rhyl.

The council has 52 schools under its control. It said there was overcrowding in some coastal schools and empty places in others.

About 60 parents with children protested at the council's Ruthin headquarters on Tuesday, as details of the proposals were outlined.