Following a weekend's rioting in Bradford, the home secretary has signalled that he may give the police more powers to tackle street disturbances.

Blunkett expressed concerns that the cautious approach of the UK police may prolong violent outbursts and hinted at new measures, such as water cannon, to tackle rioting such as that seen in Bradford.

"I am not keen on upping the ante. I am very keen on the way our police force operates as far as possible at the lowest level to maintain order, but I am keen to examine suggestions in circumstances where people believe they can go on to the streets, threaten others, including the police, and believe they can get away with it," he told the BBC.

Bradford West's Labour MP, Marsha Singh, said that the home secretary had discussed with him the need for greater police powers and hinted at the use of water cannon. "I believe that water cannon would have cleared that road in an hour," he said.

Sunday night was largely calm in the Manningham district where Saturday night's violence was concentrated, the riot left 120 police officers injured and a trail of destruction - including the burning down of a Labour club.

The police are beginning an inquiry into the disturbances which followed an Anti Nazi League demonstration and a banned National Front march.