TWO ageing secondary schools will be replaced in a £72 million investment in education in Monmouthshire.

Monmouth Comprehensive and Caldicot School are top of Monmouthshire County Council's 21st century schools programme.

Half the money will come from the council and the remainder from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Councillors agreed that the new schools will open in July 2016.

The Monmouth schools project will see a £33 million, 1,600-place campus-style secondary school and work to feeder primary schools.

At Caldicot £31 million will be spent replacing the 55-year-old secondary school with a 1,500-place campus and £3.9 million for feeder primaries.

The council says: "This will create a hub that delivers education provision fit for the future, develops the child's journey through education, builds community cohesion and contributes to the regeneration and prosperity of the (towns and their hinterlands)."

Cabinet member with responsibility for education, Cllr Liz Hackett-Pain, said: "The programme is an ongoing process of building new schools.

"However, it's not just about the building, it's about first class teaching. This is one of the most exciting things to happen to the council."