Seaham School of Technology, Shotton Hall School and Sedgefield Community College are in line to share up to �1.15m of government funding.

The cash would be used to help lower their carbon emissions.

The schools were chosen because they are all soon to be rebuilt. The money would fund eco-friendly features, like solar power and wind turbines.

They are among 200 new schools across the country that could receive extra cash over the next three years to help them meet national targets for cutting carbon emissions.

Councillor Claire Vasey, Durham council's children and young people's chief, said: "Tackling climate change is at the top of the international agenda and it's really important that we all do our bit.