by Alan Watkins

City status for Medway in 2012 - that is the target Medway Council and its partners are bidding for.

If it succeeds Medway would be one of a handful of cities that the Queen would name as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

It would coincide with the Olympics, for which the council is hoping to attract big name stars to train at its Medway Park complex in Gillingham.

It would also commemorate the 200 anniversary of Medway Towns' association with the Royal Engineers and the same anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.

The news was revealed by the council leader, Cllr Rodney Chambers at a press conference at Gun Wharf flanked by emergency service and health chiefs.

He said: "Medway is a partnership. It is not simply a council. It is supported by people who are proud to be of Medway and hold it in high esteem."

The partnership includes Medway Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Medway PCT.

Olympics year is the first opportunity that Medway has of restaking its claim for city status.

It failed in 1997 when the council was being established and again in 2000 when the smaller Brighton and Hove unitary council succeeded.

But Medway is the biggest conurbation in the south east. It is larger than Southampton, Portsmouth or Brighton and Hove.

If it succeeded it would be the first 'new name' community to gain recognition.