Parents are taking their fight to the High Court

The local authority wants to close Ysgol Gynradd Hermon near Crymych and send its 50 pupils to an upgraded site in the village.

But residents have refused to accept the decision and have received legal aid to help them take their fight to the High Court.

Parents said they were disappointed but not surprised by Ms Davidson's decision to rubber-stamp the closure.

Pembrokeshire council leader Maurice Hughes welcomed the decision and hoped a �2.5m upgrade of Crymych Primary School would go ahead to accommodate pupils from a wider area.

"This recognises the strength of the educational case for change," he said.

"It also gives the council the opportunity to invest in improved education provision for the benefit of all the children of the area."

A second school, Blaenffos, will also be closed by the council under the plan.

Matthew Stevens, father to new-born Freddie, backs the school

Parents' leader Cris Tomos said the parents' fight would continue through the courts.

The campaigners have already raised �15,000 towards the cost of �60,000 legal fees which they will have to pay if they get the go-ahead from a judge to make the High Court challenge.

If their action fails they know they could be left with a legal bill that could run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Barristers representing both sides have put their cases to a judge who will now have to decide whether there are grounds to allow the challenge to continue.

They have written to primary schools throughout Britain asking for financial backing and have also enlisted the support of celebrities including singers Cerys Matthews and Bryn Terfel, actor Rhys Ifans and snooker player Matthew Stevens.

If their challenge is successful, the decision could affect school closure decisions across the country.

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.