A notice of motion has been passed unanimously calling for the government to step in to save Denbigh College.

All 39 councillors at a Denbighshire County Council meeting - in Ruthin County Hall - voted in favour of taking the matter to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), following a scathing discussion criticising Grwp Llandrillo Menai (GLLM) for hypocrisy and abandoning the rural Welsh town.

Cllr Gwyneth Kensler, who proposed the motion, said: “The Council deplores the way that GLLM have dealt with the proposed closure of Denbigh College and calls on the WAG to intervene."

However, intervention in the proposed closure - which the Free Press reported has been fiercely opposed by more than 2000 signatories of a student led petition and Vale of Clywd politicians Ann Jones AM and and Chris Ruane MP - may be complicated by the autonomy of GLLM.

Cllr Lloyd Williams said: "Mrs Jones and and Mr Ruane have already had a meeting with Carwyn Jones and Secretary for Education Kirsty Williams - unfortunately GLLM is autonomous and has its own academic and administrative powers. They feel now that ministers wont intervene."

Cllr Rhys Thomas, who seconded the motion, responded: "Since the power over tertiary education was given over to the WAG, this does land squarely at the WAG’s door."

The existing 93 students at Denbigh College - which has 35 educators - may be forced to travel further afield to Rhos-on-Sea or Rhyl campuses after the summer if the closure goes ahead.

In a impassioned series of statements made before the vote, the speakers were united in condemning the consequences of GLLM's plans.

Cllr Glen Swingler said: "Students will no longer use the town’s facilities - the knock on effect to the town will be devastating.

"Please don’t let our rural communities die."

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts added: "There is going to be a hole left in Denbigh."

Cllr Kensler was scathing of a solution offer by Denbigh College principal Lawrence Wood of sending GLLM staff to Special Education school Plas Brondyffryn after the closure, for missing the key focus of easing students with autism into the community.

Cllr Kensler said: "Ironically today is Happy World Autism Day."

Perhaps most critical, Cllr Hillditch-Roberts drew the assembled councillors attention to GLLM's 2015-2018 strategic plan, which aimed to guarantee "opportunity, employment and prosperity in the North West Wales region.

Cllr Rhys Thomas hit back: "I don’t think I’ve seen such a hypocritical document in a long time."

A WAG spokesperson said: “The closure of Denbigh College is a matter for the Governing Body of GLLM.

“WAG officials have been in contact with the College to ensure that no existing learners at theD enbigh site will be disadvantaged by the closure.”