Cerys Matthews who is from Pembrokeshire backs the campaign

Parents trying to prevent Hermon Primary School in Pembrokeshire from merging with two others have started writing to prominent Welsh celebrities to draw attention to their fight.

Former Catatonia front woman Cerys said she fully backs the campaign and snooker star Matthew Stevens and Welsh football international Mark Delaney have also added their names.

On Monday parents will begin a landmark high court case to challenge Pembrokeshire council's decision to close Hermon and Blaenffos schools and transfer the pupils to a new �1.5m area school at Crymych.

We are now contacting as many national and international celebrity names as possible to add to our list of famous backers Cris Tomos

In September, parents at Hermon were granted legal aid for the challenge but have also started a national fundraising campaign to gather additional funds.

Matthews has strong links with Pembrokeshire even though she now lives in America.

Her parents still live in the county and she returned there in February for her wedding and again in August for the birth of her first child.

Campaign spokesman Cris Tomos said: "It was great to hear from Cerys and to receive her full support.

Education standards

"We are now contacting as many national and international celebrity names as possible to add to our list of famous backers to the appeal.

"We hope to draw as much attention as possible to the campaign and hopefully raise the large amounts of funds required to underwrite the legal costs of bring the case to the high court.

"Our school is one of the most popular in the area with a waiting list of four young children wishing to enter in the spring term."

Pembrokeshire Council's case is that it does not have the funds to expand Hermon school which is only supposed to have a 46 pupil capacity.

It says a single area primary school would be more cost effective and provide better education standards.