The Queen has given a personal message of support for police officers involved in the Bradford riots.

Her message, which also condemns the rioters, was relayed to a meeting of West Yorkshire Police Authority today.

The Queen asked West Yorkshire Assistant Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell to pass on her thoughts and sorrow at what had happened when he attended a Buckingham Palace garden party yesterday.

Assistant Chief Constable Greg Wilkinson told the meeting: "The Queen asked him to bring back her words of support and condemnation for what happened," he said.

ACC Wilkinson told the meeting that so far 221 officers had sustained injuries during attacks with gangs wielding petrol bombs, sledge hammers, flares, and even crossbows. He added, one police horse had been retired from duty as a result of injuries sustained during the violence.

Meanwhile Home Secretary David Blunkett today said he would do all he could to make sure Bradford rate-payers don't foot the policing bill for the riots which is soaring by £250,000 a day.

His pledge coincided with a dire warning that the final costs could top £27 million - enough to bankrupt the West Yorkshire Police Authority.

As well as the £2.1 million needed to quell the disturbances and maintain a huge police presence throughout the city this week, the police authority could face a £25 million compensation claim from those suffering riot-related damage.

Before the meeting, police authority chairman Councillor Neil Taggart said that under the archaic Riot Damages Act - drawn up in the 19th Century - individuals and businesses could claim against the police body while insurance companies passed on the cost of any payouts they made.

Coun Taggart said: "If that was all claimed against the police, the authority would go bust.

"Basically we would have a real problem - we would not have enough money."

But in an exclusive interview with the Telegraph & Argus, Mr Blunkett promised to treat "sympathetically" West Yorkshire Police Authority's claim to recoup money from the Government that has so far been spent on police operations in Bradford.

Hundreds of officers have had to be brought in from outside forces to maintain intensive patrols on the city's streets.

"I am extremely sympathetic to the situation. I don't want the people of Bradford and West Yorkshire to have to find they are disadvantaged in terms of public protection and policing," said Mr Blunkett.

"I shall view very sympathetically the claim. The final cost is not yet known as police are still being brought in from other forces to patrol Bradford."

Councillor Taggert said although the authority itself has limited insurance cover, it would not stretch to Bradford's collective claim.

It is counting on a Government rescue package, possibly made under the 'Bellwin Rule' - cash paid to authorities which have suffered huge outlays due to incidents such as flooding or the foot and mouth outbreak.

Coun Taggart stressed that cash was not an issue to maintain the high-profile policing operation. He added there was 'time and space' before the next budget had to be drawn up.

"If we are saddled with huge losses we will have no option but to speak to central Government."

He said it was too early to say if there would be rise in Council Tax bills.

Today's meeting was told that officers were ready to stamp out any eruptions of violence this weekend.

ACC Wilkinson said: We are not taking any chances this weekend.

"There are certain events which we hope are passed off peacefully as they were intended to.

"But if they don't, we will have the resources to stop any trouble."