Google car has county mapped

The controversial Google car has been touring the streets of Shropshire, sparking floods of calls and even reports to the police.

Worried residents from across the county have contacted the Shropshire Star after spotting the "spy car", which films streets with a 360-degree camera for the Street View mapping site in Telford, Shrewsbury, Market Drayton and Cardington, claiming it is an invasion of privacy.

The car was spotted in Telford yesterday by John Rubery, of New Works.

He said: "The car was filming in New Works and then headed towards Wellington.

"I don't have anything to hide, but why should they film our houses? I understand they can film right up to your curtains."

Telford police say they even had a report from a worried member of the public saying the car was filming in Church Aston.

But despite residents saying it could potentially aid crime, it is perfectly legal to film streets in this way.

The car has also been spotted trawling the streets of Market Drayton.

Val Smith, of Farcroft Drive, said today: "I am disgusted this firm is allowed to follow this practise especially as in these days we all have to be careful when taking normal photographs for private viewing let alone to be put on some web site."

Joyce Russell, who lives between Enchmarsh and Cardington said she had seen the Google car near her village.

Pamela Harrison, of Preston Montford, near Shrewsbury, said she saw the Google car in Preston Montford Lane at about 8.15am on Monday and yesterday it was in Meole Brace at about 11am.

She said: "I think it is absolutely appalling and shouldn't be allowed."

Gareth Evans, Google spokesman, said: "We made sure we built in privacy measures from the ground up."

Faces and number plates are blurred and users can go on the site to flag images for removal if they are unhappywith them, he added.