Neil Rogers has previously led Wrexham council

Mr Rogers was chosen at the annual general council meeting on Wednesday evening.

He takes over from Shan Wilkinson, whom he replaced as Labour leader last week.

In neighbouring Denbighshire, Independent councillor Rhiannon Wyn Hughes beat former leader Eryl Wyn Williams of Plaid Cymru for the post.

Mr Rogers has led Wrexham previously, after the new county borough was established in 1996.

He stood down in 2000 to become mayor.

Ted George, Labour member for Gwersyllt East and South, is the new deputy, while Brynyffynnon councillor David Rogers, also Labour, was installed as mayor.

New Denbighshire council leader Rhiannon Wyn Hughes

Prior to the elections, the council was run by a coalition between Labour and the Radical group, made up of Liberal Democrats and Independents.

Labour lost four seats at the polls and a larger number of independents were elected onto the council.

Mr Rogers said Labour would be governing as a minority group.

"There will have to be consensus on committees and the council to progress policies."

Alun Jenkins, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said their 10 members and six independents were forming a new group but had not entered into a coalition with Labour this time.

'Approaches'

The group is meeting later to decide its name, but is temporarily registered as True Independents.

He said they had asked questions of Labour over how any coalition would work, but said the party had failed to respond.

"It would have to have been a proper programme with things that Labour pushes that we would support, and that we wanted to push that they would support," he added.

However Mr Rogers said he and other members of the party had spoken to the group prior to Wednesday's meeting.

"Approaches were made to the Radical group, as they were called, to see if we could come to some sort of arrangement, the latest on Monday," he said.

In Denbighshire, Ms Hughes was elected by 24 votes to 21 for Mr Williams.

Plaid Cymru Trefnant councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies is the new council chair, with Independent John Smith of St Asaph West as his deputy.