KIRKLEES Council has dismissed claims it is facing an equal pay "bombshell" of up to £100m.

Employment lawyers say the authority could have to foot the bill for 3,000 equal pay claims in the clerical sector.

But the council's head of human resources denies the administrative staff have a claim.

It follows a recent Kirklees offer totalling £13m to around 3,000 mainly female staff who work in roles such as cleaners and dinner ladies.

But now law firm Action 4 Equality say they believe women in admin roles could also have a claim.

Spokeman Paul Savage said they believed women workers were being "ripped off".

He said: "There has been a cover-up. Women who work in administration and clerical roles are entitled to equal pay."

Mr Savage said the value of the jobs compared with male-dominated roles opened the doors for a pay off.

He added: "Although the roles are different ie admin and being a bin man, the current settlement looks at roles such as a dinner lady.

"Being a bin man and a dinner lady are not very similar."

Mr Savage said the current proposed settlement of £13m, rejected by the unions, was way out.

He added: "This claim could be worth anything between £50m and £100m.

"Ask yourself why are some women workers being offered money and not others. We have looked into this and we will win. This is a bombshell for the council."

In October, the group complained after they were barred from meeting to discuss the compensation claim in Dewsbury Town Hall having booked it only days earlier.

Kirklees head of human resources Cliff Stuart said: "Admin staff do not have a claim because they are part of an existing grading system which includes both men and women."

Mr Stuart said the council was striking a balance between compensation and services whereas the company did not have that responsibility.

"We have to make the judgements and pay the bills," he said.