A £20m project to rebuild and relocate a west Wiltshire secondary school was given the green light on Friday.

Wiltshire county councillors decided that George Ward School, Melksham should receive the Government cash earmarked for one school in the county.

The John of Gaunt School, Trowbridge and the Laverstock site, Salisbury were also in the running for the grant but the council's children, education and libraries advisory panel agreed with a recommendation from council officers that George Ward was the best choice.

Representatives from all three schools attended County Hall to hear the decision.

Nick Glass, acting headteacher at George Ward, said: "Thank you to everybody, we are delighted as a community to be chosen. Being recommended has given the school a lift already. We want to be an excellent school and this will help us achieve that.

"If you are from the other schools it must be disappointing, so we do have regrets for the others.

"We want to be the school of choice in the area, and a new build will help us do that. This will be a real boost."

The project will see the demolition of the school, in the Shurnfold area of the town, to be replaced by a new building on land at Woolmore Farm, Bowerhill.

Melksham mayor Margaret White said: "I am very proud. I am just sorry there is only enough money to rebuild this site, so I hope money will be provided for the others at some stage.It's great news for Melksham, not just for the children but for the whole town. We have often been the poor relation in the area, and we thought that might continue, so we are delighted."

Andy Packer, headteacher of The John of Gaunt School, said he was disappointed but is looking towards the future.

"It was an eye opener for councillors to see the conditions of the schools our pupils are taught in. I hope that a new George Ward fulfils the needs of Melksham, but it will also have a wider impact for education in the county, which is fantastic.

"It is not a time for resentment or bitterness. We will fully support George Ward, but please do not overlook us in the future," he urged The county council's cabinet is expected to confirm decision on the allocation of the grant today.