DETECTIVES are investigating allegations of theft amounting to £20,000 from Maidstone Chamber of Commerce.

The allegations surfaced during a probe by accountants after the sudden resignation of chief executive Bill Alder whose whereabouts were unknown more than a month after his shock departure.

In a separate move, chamber chairman Bryan Godwin stepped down after only six months in the job, claiming that it was unacceptable for him not to have been aware of the alleged irregularities.

Chamber chairman Alan Reading, who took over the chairman's role after Mr Godwin quit, said: "There are a number of small alleged thefts that we have questions about and the directors have decided to call in the police to make further investigations."

Maidstone police confirmed that officers were investigating allegations of theft and inquiries were ongoing.

Mr Reading, who spent nearly 10 hours giving a statement to detectives, disclosed that the total value of the missing sums was around £20,000.

Mr Alder, 52, was a former publishing entrepreneur. He is credited with creating one of the fastest-growing chambers in the country after recruiting nearly 300 new members in the past 18 months.

While the chamber expects to make a five-figure loss in the financial year ending March 2002, Mr Reading said it would almost certainly be in profit in the year ending March 2003.

Meanwhile, the chamber has appointed a new chief executive. Sean Randell, presently with Select Appointments, starts on November 11.