The first stage of Cymdeithas yr Iaith's march for village schools began for campaigners at Ysgol y Parc, near Bala, on Monday afternoon, marking the start of a 75-mile week-long hike.

Under the heading O Benllyn i Ben-Llyn, the week sees walkers travelling to a variety of village schools under threat from Gwynedd Council closure proposals.

On Monday, walkers headed from Ysgol y Parc to the Tryweryn Chapel of Remem-brance lakeside at Llyn Celyn.

Marchers were led on this first stage by Cymdeithas yr Iaith organiser in North Wales Osian Jones, who said: "The loss of a school such as Parc would be a suspended death sentence for the local Welsh-speaking community.

"The community would age and lose its vitality as young people would be far less likely to live in a community without a school and there would be no focus for young life."

One of the most popular singers in Wales, Heather Jones, supported the campaign by singing Colli Iaith, Colli Cymdeithas (Losing a Language, Losing a Community) at the Remembrance Chapel and she held a concert on Monday evening with children at Ysgol y Parc.

The 75-mile trek will be completed today (Thursday) with a walk from The Ffor, on to Llidiardau School in Pen-Llyn after calling at Bryncroes.

Tomorrow morning will see the presentation of responses to Gwynedd Council, while in the afternoon supporters, parents and children will walk from Croeslon to the county council offices in Caernarfon.