The new schools will concentrate on vocational courses

It was originally estimated that their plan to merge three of the town's secondary schools into two new 'super schools' would cost �12m, but the cost has now risen to �22m.

A meeting of Wrexham council on Tuesday evening, voted in favour of the overspend on the scheme.

Under the plans, pupils from three schools - Bryn Offa, St David's and the Groves - will merge into two new ones, Ysgol Clywedog and Rhosnesni High.

The original amount of money set aside for the project was found to be insufficient after it was revealed that the cost of inflation had not been built into the calculations.

Then in October an extra �3m in funding was promised by the local authority after spiralling costs sent the scheme over budget.

Councillors agreed to save nearly �250,000 by scrapping plans to build a grass pitch at Ysgol Clywedog, floodlighting at both Rhosnesni High and Clywedog and plans to lease computer equipment.

Construction work has already begun at Ysgol Clywedog

It was also decided that council assets would be sold to find the extra revenue.

The new calculations pushed the cost of merging the three secondary schools up to �15m.

But it has now been predicted that the cost could go up again to as much as �22m and the council has been asked, and has decided to approve, a �7m overspend.

But speaking after the meeting, Wrexham council leader Shan Wilkinson said: "That is the maximum and we are hoping and we are hoping it will come in a good deal less than that."