A shake-up of Bradford's special schools has been set back because of a delay in Government funding of £35 million.

School chiefs said today they were disappointed the scheme to create six new special schools had been set back a year. And one chairman of governors has called the announcement "disastrous".

For six months, Bradford Council had been unclear about whether its bid for £35 million of Government cash had been successful.

The Government has now confirmed that a decision will not be taken until later this year. The revamp will mean the closure of ten existing schools - Bolling, Braithwaite, Branshaw, Chapel Grange, Greenfield, Haycliffe, Heaton Royds, Lister Lane, Netherlands Avenue and Wedgwood and their replacement with six new special schools - three primary and three secondary.

It was hoped that the special schools would be ready in 2006 but because of the funding delays, notices to close the existing special schools cannot be issued.

John Lambert, chairman of governors at Heaton Royds special school, said: "This has disastrous implications. Many of the facilities of the special schools are not acceptable and the future depends on us having purpose built facilities.

"It has been one delay after another with this scheme and it will have a negative impact on the morale of staff."

Councillor David Ward, Bradford Council's executive member for education said: "We are bitterly disappointed that this project is now having to be put back.

"We have been working closely with the Government on this scheme but we cannot move things forward until we get the funding announcement from them."

The Council has already allocated funding for the primary part of the plan but is delaying the whole scheme until funding is secured for the secondary schools as well.

Lister Lane Special School head teacher Glynne Freeth said: "I am very disappointed with this news, as are all the Council officers and other heads."

Mark Pattison, Education Bradford's managing director said: "We are disappointed at this delay as this has an impact on some of the most vulnerable young people in the district."