CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a closure-threatened Abergaven-ny school are praying that the Church in Wales will help save it.

Parents and governors at Park Street Infants School - one of two Abergavenny infant schools issued with closure notices - have discussed changing from an LEA controlled school to a voluntary aided church school.

This will allow the governors to take children who do not live in the catchment area, and apply to the Monmouth Diocesan Trust for money for capital projects.

Governors met last week to discuss the move, and met Canon Keith Denison, the diocesan director of education at the school on Friday.

Canon Jeremy Winston, vicar of Abergavenny and a Park Street School governor, said: "The important thing is that church school status would restore the history and heritage at Park Street School, and secondly it would help integrate the resources the church can offer.

"The meeting is being held with the diocesan director of education to open up negotiations and look at the possibilities. It is not just seen as a life raft, but as a positive move.

"The church is not looking to increase its congregation, but to help the community. It will be a good relationship and a good new beginning.

"Park Street is very much a focus for the community and that has been seen by the sterling efforts of everyone concerned in their fight to keep it open - the staff, parents and the very enthusiastic governing body."

The chairman of governors Norma Watkins said: "There are no church schools in Abergavenny other than the Catholic Primary School and Llantilio Pertholey Primary School which is in Mardy, so we believe there is a need for one in the town. We have sought the views of as many parents as possible and we've had no objections at all, and the community is behind us.

"As a church controlled school we would have no set catchment. This school has a history of church involvement. It started as Christchurch girls and infants school on the present site in 1894 and was sold to the church board in 1902.

"There is also a covenant that ties the school to Holy Trinity Church, Abergavenny." A spokesman for Monmouthshire county council said they had not received an official approach from the church about Park Street school.