Ysgol Bryn Offa is now known as Ysgol Clywedog

Plans for all-weather pitches and new covered areas to keep pupils out of the wet and cold may have to be dropped.

The plan to merge three Wrexham secondary schools and create two new ones was originally set to cost �12m.

But that figure has risen to �15m, councillors will be told.

The local council has pledged to find the extra money, but it could mean the plans being scaled down.

The innovative plans to create two schools will allow pupils to have greater flexibility and choice of subjects and facilities Shan Wilkinson, Wrexham council leader

The Groves High School, St David's and Bryn Offa have closed and two new ones created.

The new schools, Ysgol Clywedog and Rhosnesni High, are both being extensively modernised.

The price has risen largely due to inflation in construction and special educational needs for pupils.

'Glazed links'

Three options have been put forward to deal with the overspend, including one to remove or delay parts of the school plans.

One idea could be to call off a proposal for an all-weather pitch at Rhosnesni, which is due to cost �298,000.

Plans costing �266,000 to upgrade a shale pitch at Clywedog into an all-weather pitch could also be under threat.

Plans for covered areas - or "glazed links" - to prevent pupils having to go outside as they travel between classrooms for both schools may also have to be put off. These would cost �137,000.

Wrexham may also ask the assembly government for more money and look within the council for extra funding.

Wrexham council leader Shan Wilkinson said she still believed the modernisation was value for money.

"The innovative plans to create two schools will allow pupils to have greater flexibility and choice of subjects and facilities," she said.

Protest petition

The scheme had already been criticised by many parents of pupils at the affected schools.

Last year a protest petition with more than 1,000 signatures was handed in.

However, the scheme went ahead after the Welsh Assembly Government ratified the scheme.

The Groves school buildings will still be used until 2005, but it is now known as the Penymaes site, housing pupils from Rhosnesni High School.

The two new schools will place a larger emphasis on vocational courses.

Wrexham council had previously funded the project by selling local authority property.