DISTRESSED Newport parents are preparing to fight to save their nursery school from closure.

Parents and staff at Don Close Nursery, Bettws are angry after plans were announced to shut it and replace it with nurseries attached to Millbrook Primary and Monnow Infants Schools.

Today head teacher Helen Day, who wants the closure overturned, is sending out official letters to inform parents of the situation.

Mrs Day said: "The council's proposal represents a disappointing failure to recognise the unique benefits a stand-alone nursery can offer to the education of early years children."

Angry parents said they will be writing letters and lobbying the council, as well as making their feelings known when consultation starts in the autumn.

Don Close nursery serves the whole of the Bettws estate and 60 children attend one of its two daily sessions.

Parent Hazel Martin, of Exe Road, Bettws said: "It's so sad. "They're brilliant here, I can't fault them."

Her son Thomas, four, loves going to the nursery and Mrs Martin is concerned her 15-month-old daughter Aimee may not have the same experience.

Newport city councillor for Bettws, Noel Trigg, said: "It's a lovely school and the staff are tremendous. I support it staying open."

Bettws councillor Glyn Jarvis explained the logic behind the proposed closure.

He said: "It will be less traumatic for children starting school if they are used to the surroundings from going to nursery at either Millbrook or Monnow."

He is in favour of the proposal and said: "It will also safeguard the future of the other Bettws schools if nurseries are attached to them."

But many parents are concerned about the effect sharing a school with infants and juniors will have. Susan Davies, 43, has grandchildren at Don Close.

She said: "It's so safe and all the focus is on the nursery class. That would be lost in a bigger school."

Last week, Newport city council cabinet member Bob Poole recommended Don Close nursery should close and that Malpas Park and Malpas Court Primary with Bettws' Millbrook Junior and Minnow Primary schools should be saved.

The cabinet will consider Councillor Bob Poole's recommendation at a later date.