Compensation claims from police officers injured in the Bradford riots could bankrupt the force authority.

Officers hurt when they were pelted by rioters are preparing to launch damages claims against West Yorkshire Police, saying tactics left them vulnerable to attack.

If the claims are upheld, the authority fears hundreds of others could follow, costing it millions of pounds on top of the bill for extra riot police.

Under the 1886 Riots (Damages) Act, the authority also faces a catalogue of claims from businesses, individuals and insurance firms because, legally, it is held responsible for the damage.

Earlier this month, the Telegraph & Argus revealed how officers had already submitted claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

They could be awarded anything from £1,000 for the shock of the night up to a maximum of £250,000 for being permanently disabled through their injuries.

More than 280 officers were hurt during the July 7 riots and 46 remain off duty on sick leave.

The Police Federation of West Yorkshire confirmed it had been contacted by officers unhappy with the way they were deployed and who blamed the strategy of senior officers in dealing with the trouble.

Richard Critchley, secretary of the West Yorkshire branch of the federation, said two applications for legal action were already in the hands of solicitors to consider.

"It isn't a vendetta against senior officers," he said. "There were a lot of injuries and we need to see if there is a link between the injury caused and neglect. Then there may be a civil claim pursued through the courts."

Terry Rooney, MP for Bradford North, branded the claims 'insensitive and premature' as residents in Manningham were still trying to rebuild their lives.

And Bary Malik, a member of the West Yorkshire Police Ethnic Minority Liaison Committee, said he was worried this could start a precedent which could cause problems in the future.

"I know they went through a hard time but they should not be claiming compensation," he said. "There are hundreds of people in the Manningham neighbourhood who also witnessed what happened and went through trauma and are having sleepless nights."

Neil Taggart, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Authority, condemned the threat of action. "There is nothing to stop individuals going to law if that is what they want to do but we cannot afford to pay the bill," he said.

"Extra policing costs for and after the riots are in the region of £4m and with riot damages and claims from police officers it could be at least £10m."

He said cutbacks to recoup the money was not an option they wanted and they would be approaching central government to help with extraordinary costs.

Assistant Chief Constable Greg Wilkinson, the officer directly responsible for Bradford, said: "We are in an increasingly litigious society, so I am not entirely surprised by this. But I am disappointed. When I joined the police I expected to take knocks." The force has refused to comment further.

Chief Constable Graham Moore has asked for feedback about the way the force dealt with the riots to pinpoint weaknesses in strategy, adopted from a national handbook.