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The Police Ombudsman said she aims to complete 95 Troubles-related cases over the coming year, despite the Legacy Act coming into force on 1 May.

Transitional arrangements will allow Marie Anderson to finish some investigations which had already been under way.

However, hundreds of other historical cases will be dropped after Wednesday.

The act sees the establishment of a new legacy body which is taking over all Troubles-era cases.

It is called the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) and will be headed by retired judge Sir Declan Morgan.

From Wednesday the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Police Ombudsman will no longer investigate conflict-related cases which happened before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

The ombudsman's office deals with complaints about police conduct, including allegations of collusion.

Recent investigations have dealt with high-profile cases, such as the loyalist murders at Sean Graham's bookmakers in 1992.

Ombudsman Marie Anderson said transitional arrangements outlined by the government on 17 April mean she can complete some cases within the next 12 months.

"These arrangements go further than originally anticipated and mean that I will be able to communicate my findings in a greater number of cases than first envisaged," she said.

"Although this is positive news for some, I am acutely aware that as my remit for historical investigations closes, regrettably my ability to provide answers to other families and victims also ends."

She said 281 Troubles-era cases will not begin to be investigated and a further 54 are being discontinued.

Ms Anderson added: "I am writing personally to those families whose investigations will not now be progressed, expressing regret and I know they will be deeply disappointed and distressed."

In future, the Police Ombudsman will deal with the conduct of officers in "a contemporary setting".