THE new president of the century-old Medway Chamber of Commerce is Bill Wallis. He could be the last.

Mr Wallis was elected at Tuesday's 111th annual meeting. But in November the chamber is expected to merge with the Kent Thameside chamber.

Mr Wallis, a previous Medway president, succeeds Paul Woodcock. He beat a challenge from Jay Choudhry who becomes first vice-president. The new second vice-president is Jeff Brown of the University of Kent at Medway.

The merger was approved in April, but there were suggestions that the plan could be scrapped at the eleventh hour as Medway's directors raised queries about the deal.

The new chamber - which is affiliated to the British Chambers of Commerce - will be known as the Kent Thameside and Medway Chamber of Commerce.

A previous merger plan, between the Kent Thameside and Gravesham chambers, was rejected when the Gravesend membership overwhelmingly rejected the proposal.