Protesters move village to London

An 86-year-old villager created a John Prescott scarecrow

Residents of a Cornwall village have packed up and moved their entire village to London for the day to protest against it "dying out".

More than 100 residents of Lanreath, near Looe, took their school children, Women's Institute members, bowls team and farm animals onto Islington Green.

They created a virtual Lanreath in protest against the proposed closure of their school by the county council.

Villagers claim the closure would "rip the heart out of the village".

One villager warned the council had chosen the wrong village to mess with, while 86-year-old Billie Hayes, who created a scarecrow of John Prescott, said: "Village life should go on as village life and not be urbanized and have all our services taken away.

"Cornwall always seems to be short-changed and it's about time that we stand-up and be counted."

Villagers showcased what village life was like

During the protest, residents showcased what village life was like by holding a bowls and tug-of-war competition, Morris dancing, a bake sale and teachers held a lesson for Lanreath Primary School pupils.

The council wants to close Lanreath Primary School by August 2007 because falling numbers would mean a one-class school, which it claims is bad for children's education and development.

It predicts that by 2008, only 12 pupils will remain at the school.

A decision on the formal consultation is due in December.

On Monday, the bus service stopped and villagers have been without a local shop and post office for two years.