ROCHESTER'S city status could be restored by the Queen next year--on the 1,400th anniversary of the founding of its cathedral.

Medway council is expected tomorrow to debate a plan to get the lost city of Rochester restored to the maps.

Rochester held the title for more than 700 years. But somehow, in the rush to create the new borough of Medway in April 1998, no one bothered to preserve the city right despite government warnings.

The Department of the Environment warned the former Rochester upon Medway council in 1997 that it risked losing its city status, rights and privileges, but its policy and resources committee rejected a plan to appoint trustees in January 1998.

They were told that Medway Council had "expressed a view that no action should be taken to establish such trustees".

It wanted borough status, which would give it the rights to a mayor and deputy mayor.

Peter Downton, chairman of the City of Rochester Society, said this week: "This is the right time to do it. They have had trouble getting city status for the geographical area of the Towns.

"It must be worthwhile for all these other cities to want to have the status."

Last year Judith Armitt, chief executive of Medway Council, discounted any reason for trying to recover the city title.

She told the society that it is much more meaningful to get Medway recognised as a city but bids to mark both the Queen's Golden Jubilee and the Millennium failed.

Rochester Cathedral was founded in 604AD.