​Google’s Street View map, which gives photos of roads and the people on them, was expanded today to include 360-degree views of all of Thanet's streets.

Pictures of the isle's pedestrians, front gardens and shop windows are now available on the map, which creators hope will be help people get around.

A Google spokesman said: “People can check out a restaurant before arriving, make travel plans, arrange meeting points, get a helping hand with geography homework, or just get to know their town better.”

The news has been welcomed by many in Thanet.

Google say any business can link their website to the photographic maps free of charge.

The ambitious project of photographing the whole country has not been without its critics.

One of the camera cars was thwarted by Buckinghamshire villagers, who formed a human chain across the road to stop the car taking pictures of their homes because they feared it could encourage burglars.

Google says the newly-uploaded streets will have all car license plates and people’s faces blurred.

Anyone who doesn’t want their home, car or photo on the site can report it to the designers and have it removed.

For the full story, reaction and pictures, see Friday's Isle of Thanet Gazette.