West Yorkshire Police Auth-ority is preparing to send the final 'bill' for Bradford's riots to the Government.

As well as more than £3 million needed to cover the police operation, it faces at least £7 million in claims from individuals and firms suffering damage during the violence.

As already revealed in the Telegraph & Argus, the authority is responsible for footing the repairs bill under the 1886 Riot (Damages) Act.

Chairman Councillor Neil Taggart said that without financial support from the Government, this could bankrupt the authority and substantially cut officer numbers.

Under the Act, claimants have 14 days in which to report their losses although this had been extended in some cases, said Coun Taggart.

He said that the authority had formally agreed to forward its bill to the Home Secretary and was now totting up the total.

"We have loss adjusters examining some of the cases at the moment," said Mr Taggart.

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, has already indicated that the people of West Yorkshire should not have to foot the bill for the disorder.