Parents and pupils marched on Llanelli Town Hall

They voiced their opposition to the proposals outside the town hall at 1600 BST on Thursday.

Carmarthenshire council wants to merge the eight schools into four because it says it would cut 700 surplus places in Llanelli and improve conditions for 1,200 pupils.

But objectors say it is unsuitable to put infant and junior school pupils in the same buildings.

Nobody can see how this will improve education standards Parent Rob Evans

Under the proposals pupils from Llwynhendy Junior and Ysgol Yr Ynys would be taught at a new family learning centre.

Morfa Junior and Infants will be merged, and Felinfoel Junior and Ysgol Y Babanod will be replaced with one new school.

Lakefield and Copperworks are also set to merge and a new community school will be built at Bryn, to replace the existing one, which has five mobile classrooms.

Dissenting voices

But some parents fear that housing infant and junior pupils in the same buildings could lead to bullying and more crowded classrooms.

Rob Evans, who is helping to organise the campaign at Felinfoel, said: "I hope the strength of feeling in Llanelli will be noticed.

"Nobody can see how this will improve education standards."

The council said it had been consulting with the parents for a year and only now were there dissenting voices.

Morfa juniors and infants schools are to merge

Education director Alun Davies said: "The council is planning to spend millions of pounds on improving education and facilities in the Llanelli area.

"The proposed mergers are not cost-cutting exercises but an investment aimed at improving the current situation.

"Pupils will be provided with better accommodation in improved buildings and new schools.

"There has been extensive consultation on these proposals for the past year.

"Meetings have been held with parents, governors and staff.

"Statutory notices have now been published which mean people have another two months to make any objections.