DEFIANT parents fighting to save a doomed Gwent school have taken their case to every single member of the National Assembly.

Ponthir primary school faces the axe following a vote by Torfaen council. It says the school must close as part of its bid to cut surplus places which it claims will rise to one in four by 2008.

Campaigners hand delivered a CD containing an audio and visual message to each of the Assembly's 60 members.

"We want AMs to realise that if a school as good as this can close, then no school in Wales is safe," said Ponthir Action Group member Steve Price.

And he also revealed parents are applying for judicial review if education minister Jane Davidson approves the school's closure next month.

As previously reported, the schools' governors hope to turn Ponthir into a faith school in a further bid to save it, making it voluntary aided and funded by the Church in Wales rather than the local education authority.

Mr Price, aged 39, of Stoke Court, said AMs were quick to signal their support after receiving the CD, including leader of the Conservatives in the Assembly Nick Bourne.

Father-of-three Mr Price added: "It contains a commentary and slides covering our main arguments including the fact that Ponthir is one of the best performing schools in the borough, with excellent SAT results, as well as the fact that a purpose-built nursery has just opened on the site." Two of Mr Price's children attend the school.

Nick Bourne said: "Unfortunately Jane Davidson has a deplorable record when it comes to approving school closures - she hasn't turned one down since coming into office," he said.

Torfaen council's executive member for education, Councillor John Turner, said the council had thought through the decision carefully. He added: "All the schools we have closed are good schools because there are no failing schools in Torfaen."