MEDWAY Chamber of Commerce has taken the struggling Swale chamber under its wing.

Swale chamber lost thousands of pounds after the Kent Maritime Chamber of Commerce -- a group of Swale, Thanet and Canterbury chambers -- went bust last year.

Since then, local business people have rallied round to keep the group going and eventually found a saviour in Medway chamber.

Known as the Swale Division, the chamber becomes part of a new North Kent Chamber of Commerce. This new group links Kent Thames-side -- the former Dartford chamber -- and Medway. Each will keep its own identity and assets but come together as the North Kent Chamber on regional and strategic issues.

Swale held its first meeting at Sittingbourne Research Centre where Medway chamber officials outlined their plans.

Tracey Manley, chief executive, welcomed Swale to the Medway fold. She said it was not "an old boys' club" but an "exciting and vibrant" group of business people. "It's a really exciting challenge for us," she said.

Terry Hodges, acting Swale division chairman in the absence of Alan Hawkins, said the chamber was "starting to emerge from the debacle" of the Kent Maritime Chamber of Commerce.

"I hope we've all learned a few lessons from what's been going on in the last 12 months and that some good will come from the problems."

He said the new division would keep its identity and spread benefits to members. "We want you to use it as a point to lobby local authorities and local MPs."

The division is to set up a new head office in the St George's Enterprise Centre, Sittingbourne.

"The future for Swale under this arrangement with Medway has to be good," Mr Hodges said. "Medway has looked after us extremely well. They took on a chamber which had shot its bolt. They have nurtured us, picked up the pieces, let us maintain our identity and from there we can go forward."

Swale council has not so far pledged any financial help to the new group. But Cllr Don Jordan welcomed the move.

He said: "The council is pleased to see local businesses working to re-active chamber services for the borough, and when established, it looks forward to working together in consultation on business needs and developments that contribute to the growth of the local economy."