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

Dewi Owens, cabinet member for lifelong learning at Denbighshire Council, said the scale of the changes surprised him.

He was speaking on BBC Radio Cymru's news magazine programme, Llinyn Mesur.

The council will discuss its proposals on Tuesday, at the start of a six-week consultation period.

Mr Owens said the period could be extended in order for all interested parties to express their viewpoints.

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

I am opposed to the closure of the schools Cllr Dewi Owens

Speaking later on Sunday to BBC News Online, Mr Owens said: "I am opposed to the closure of the schools and I hope we can find another way of keeping them open.

"I was also surprised at the scale of the closures, but I have the corporate responsibility for all schools in Denbighshire.

"If we can't get the money from the Welsh Assembly Government and we can't see a way forward then we'll have to close them. But hopefully not on the scale proposed at the moment."

And, he added: "Perhaps we can look at building more homes in rural areas to keep schools open. But this is not cut and dried, this is a consultation document."

Parents of pupils from two Denbighshire primary schools threatened with closure have said they will fight the plans every step of the way.

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

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

The parents, who met in Llandegla to plan their next step, denied that numbers 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.

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.

Parents concerned over the planned closure of Denbighshire schools will hand in 200 letters of objection to the council on Monday.

The letters are all written by parents and villagers from Llandegla and Bryneglwys.