DEVASTATED villagers are determined to fight shock proposals to close small schools in a radical shake-up of the borough's education system planned for next year.

Teachers, community groups and children at Buerton and Worleston Primary Schools - both earmarked for closure in July 2006 - expressed anger, outrage and disbelief at the plans, which they said came 'out of the blue' last week.

Other schools around the borough could amalgamate as Cheshire County Council seek to 'adapt to meet the demands of the 21st century' and 'tackle the growing number of surplus places'.

In a letter to parents and governors Joan Feenan, the county's acting director of children's services, blames surplus school places on falling birth rates and points out that smaller schools could struggle to meet the financial and educational demands placed on all schools by the Government.

But Rosemary Cook, headteacher of Buerton Primary, near Audlem, fears for the future of their village if the school, which is the 'centre of the community' and used by local organisations, closes next year.

She said: "We are all devastated and in shock, but the community is already rallying and we will not take this lying down, we will fight for our children."

Only six years ago villagers saved their school from similar proposals and Mrs Cook says: "We are dumbstruck we have to go through all that again so soon."

Villagers insist small schools play a vital role and have much to offer with one-on-one care.

But Buerton has only 24 of its 45 places filled and the county council is hoping to increase efficiency by ensuring every school has at least 120 pupils.

Although Worleston Primary School has only 34 pupils it has been recognised with awards from the Basic Skills Agency and countycouncil, which recently invested in a new classroom and full refurbishment for the school.

Headteacher Anita Ansell told the Guardian this week: "We will continue to provide high standards of education but are extremely upset and hanging in limbo."

Local councillors are concerned that making children travel further to schools will increase peak-time traffic on the roads and compromise government initiatives to encourage children to walk to school.

The county will also have additional costs of providing transport to schools, which could add an extra 10 miles to children's daily journeys.

Cllr Keith Cafferty said: "It is deplorable that villages could lose their schools and could affect their economy as families may not move to a place with no primary school."

If the plans go ahead, headteachers of closing schools will be offered redundancy and teachers will be redeployed.

Public consultations will be heard on the proposals at Crewe Alexandra Football Club on November 8 and 9 from 2pm to 7.30pm.

Decisions on any changes will be made by March 2006 and in place by September.