Plans to built a third Christian-style city academy in the West Midlands have been unveiled.

The £20 million school, which will have a religious ethos and is being backed by a Christian multi-millionaire businessman, is to be created in Sandwell.

Go-ahead for the Design and Enterprise Academy, to replace Dartmouth High School in Great Barr, has been given by the Government. The school will open in 2008.

But growing Christian influence in the new academies - a flagship drive to replace failing schools using private-sector backing - has raised concern in some quarters.

Critics say pupils are getting religion forced upon them and attack the teaching of creationism rather than Darwinism in such schools.

Next year the Grace Academy, backed by Warwickshire-based evangelical businessman Bob Edmiston, will replace Whitesmore School in Chelmsley Wood.

The multi-millionaire also announced plans to build a second Christian-based academy in Coventry last month, sparking protest from local Liberal Democrats.

Proposals for the Sandwell academy were put forward by West Bromwich-born businessman Eric Payne, whose family engineering business in North Wales has amassed him a £65 million fortune and who will contribute £2 million towards the academy.

The cash will come through the Grace Charitable Foundation, a charity he set up with his wife, Grace, to support Christian work.

The rest of the £20 million cost will be met by the public purse.

"I have been a committed Christian since my teenage years," said 63-year-old Mr Payne.

"The school will be based on basic Christian principles."

He denied the school would be faith-based, adding no attempt would be made to convert youngsters.

"The academy will work to introduce children to the broad spectrum of faiths and have a clear didactic style so they can appreciate religion," he said.

"We are not committed to indoctrination but to enabling students to be able to make up their own mind."

Mr Payne believes instilling basic Christian principles can help to deal with the rising problem of ill-discipline in schools.

"People need to learn to build the right sort of relationships with one another, with teachers and parents."

The academy also aims to provide a showcase for young designers and develop a high profile in the creative arts.

Schools Minister Andrew Adonis has approved a feasibility study into the multi-million pounds project.

"This is a really exciting opportunity for the pupils and community and I am confident it will further improve educational standards in Sandwell," he said.

Last month Lib Dem leader for Coventry Coun Derek Benefield (Upper Stoke) spoke out against plans by Mr Edmiston to build a Christian academy in the city.

He said at the time: "A secular state school is going to be replaced, in effect, by a religious school."

Outspoken critic Ken Purchase, Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East, also attacked the move, urging religion to be left to "parents and the Church" rather than schools.

The Government wants to multiply the number of city academies from about 20 to 200 by the end of the decade.

Christian groups appear eager to get involved as sponsors. The Oasis Trust set up an ' academies consultancy' shortly after the expansion drive was announced to help other believers back the new secondaries.