WHEN Darren Brown decided to join Ashford Chamber of Commerce and Industry he didn't realise he would be in for special treatment.

Mr Brown, managing director of Orbital Net, became the 500th member of the chamber and, to mark the milestone, he received a plaque and champagne from chamber chairman Martin Phippen at the chamber's annual meeting on Thursday.

Chamber chief Chris Capron said the British Chambers of Commerce had set itself a target of achieving 10 per cent of the possible membership. Ashford's penetration was already more than 16 per cent. "We have a super team and I thank them," said Mr Capron.

Orbital Net provides an internet service for business users. It is based in Wotton Road, South Ashford and employs eight people. Mr Brown said: "We did not join the chamber earlier because all our business was either north of here or in the rest of the world."

Now not only was his company offering a local service but he also felt it was time to become more involved in the affairs of the town.

Mr Brown said businesses in Ashford could now receive his service via small dishes. "I am trialling the system and plan to cover Kent, starting with Maidstone."

In London and other big cities this system has been abused by so called war-drivers. These bandits tune into the wavelength being used to transmit the system and gain free internet access. Chalk marks on the pavement tell them where they can strike.

Mr Brown said anyone trying this in Ashford would be unlucky. "We have encrypted our system," he said.

* Mr Phippen was re-elected chairman of the Ashford chamber.