SCHOOLCHILDREN have been putting their mark on two new Denbighshire primary schools ahead of their opening.

Children that will soon be attending Ysgol Carreg Emlyn's new site in Clocaenog, and Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, near Ruthin, have taken part in panel signing ceremonies as work on both schools progresses.

The upcoming pupils had the chance to sign their names and draw pictures on panels that will make up the structure of the new buildings, which are expected to be completed by Bodelwyddan-based contractor Wynne Construction ahead of the next academic year.

Nearly £10 million has been invested in rural education between the two sites.

The school in Llanfair will be a bilingual church school partnered with the Diocese of St Asaph, built on land opposite Bryn y Clwyd, while in Clocaenog a new single site school for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, a merged schools project, is being built with the promise of state-of-the-art facilities for up to 95 pupils.

Both schools have been funded by the Welsh Government’s '21st Century Schools' programme in partnership with investment from Denbighshire county council.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, lead member for Education, Children and Young People, said: “It has been encouraging to see pupils at both schools take such an interest in their new school buildings.

“Supporting our young people and making sure they have modern school facilities that further enhance their education is a priority for the council and these new facilities are part of a £90m investment in Denbighshire schools."

At Ysgol Carreg Emlyn the installation of the structural insulated panels is complete with windows set to be installed in the coming weeks ahead of internal works.

At Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, work on the installation of structural insulated panels commenced at the start of September.

Cllr Hilditch-Roberts added: "Work is progressing well at both sites and both schools are expected to be open by the summer of next year.”