Hermon Primary School dates back to Victorian times

Parents of pupils at Hermon Community Primary School, which is due to close next month, will challenge the decision in the High Court in Cardiff.

Pembrokeshire council made the decision to shut the 53-pupil school last September.

But parents have mounted a strong campaign to reverse the decision, arguing if it goes ahead it could spell the end for rural schools in the county.

They won permission to mount their legal challenge in April and have also secured legal aid to cover the costs.

The council also wants to close schools at Blaenffos and Crymych and build a "campus for life-long learning" on the old Crymych site.

Parents at the other two schools are reported to be in favour of this plan.

Unlawful

Welsh Education Minister Jane Davidson refused an appeal by Hermon parents to keep the school open and gave her backing to Pembrokshire council's decision.

In June, the assembly government lost an appeal to prevent the judicial review, arguing that the parents' challenge should have been brought earlier.

Barrister Nicholas Bowen, representing the parents, is to argue that the decision to close the school was unlawful and there was "no rational justification" for it.