West Yorkshire Police Authority is bracing itself for a deluge of last minute compensation claims stemming from the Manningham riots.

The deadline for claims is this weekend, two weeks after the clashes took a grip of Bradford.

Police chiefs are lobbying the Government to change the antiquated provisions of the Victorian Riot Damages Act and admit if they fail the force faces a financial catastrophe.

The 1886 act lays the bill, which could reach more than £15m, at the feet of the West Yorkshire Police Authority which is already covering claims from April's Lidget Green disturbances.

Chairman of the Authority Councillor Neil Taggart said: "If we do not have assistance the money will have to come from our mainstream budget which would affect our ability to police the county in the way we really want.

"The affect of the Act is that the police budget is subsidising the insurance industry and I don't think that is appropriate."

This year's police authority budget for the county is £314m and so far £2.9m of that has been spent on covering the operation resulting from the Manningham riots.

Coun Taggart said that at the moment claims are being met from the authority's reserves but could soon have to come from the main budget.

He added: "We will be talking to the Association of Police Authorities and asking them if they can persuade the Home Office to repeal sections of the Riot Damages Act.

"Any claims that come to the Police Authority will be scrutinised by loss adjusters and solicitors and they must all be made within two weeks of the event."

A spokesman for the Home Office said there were no plans to repeal any sections of the Act and said the authority was still liable for all claims, although Home Secretary David Blunkett has pledged to do all he can to ensure tax payers do not foot the bill.