The bill for putting extra police patrols onto the streets of Bradford is running into tens of thousands of pounds every day, it was revealed today.

Scores of officers are being drafted in daily from surrounding forces in the wake of the rioting.

West Yorkshire's Chief Constab-le Graham Moore said it cost around £10,000 for every 20 officers brought in each day - although he would not say how many outsiders are being used.

But Mr Moore stressed the extra patrols would be maintained for "as long as they are needed".

He is set to meet Home Secretary David Blunkett on Thursday to discuss future policing of the city, including the police budget, extra powers and equipment.

Yesterday Mr Moore arrived in Bradford to brief teams of police before they went out on patrol around the city last night.

He paid tribute to his officers' bravery over the weekend and condemned the thugs who had attacked them.

He said: "This was not the community rising up.

"This was just yobs and hooligans - and we are determined to make sure they appear before a court."

A team of around 50 officers was today trawling through photographs of the rioters and would be making arrests imminently, he said.

He likened the offenders to the "worst sort of football hooligans", and said although they came from a range of backgrounds the common factor was their age.

"Some described it as being a 'good buzz' to have a go at the police," he said.

And Mr Moore told how the rioters were throwing missiles directly at areas where they were least protected, so as to cause maximum damage.

"These officers are not storm-troopers - they are the same men and women who are out patrolling every day," he said.

Mr Moore had gone to visit some of the 170 police casualties at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

"There was one officer who told me that he had been injured in the same street where he lived," he said.

"Many had already worked an eight-hour day and then had the very tough and physical task of dispersing these violent yobs.

"We had not anticipated the ferocity of the violence.

"There were officers who had been standing in the direct line of fire - having a barrage of missiles hurled at them - for two hours."

And he paid tribute to law-abiding residents for their support for the police.

"The community has been very supportive of our officers," he said.

"People have cheered the police vans when they have driven into the Manningham area."

Mr Moore said some residents had brought out sandwiches and tea for the officers and added: "We have received a great number of messages of support and gratitude."