​GOOGLE'S Street View technology, which shows photographs of every street and property in a certain area, will be launched in Plymouth on Thursday.

The controversial addition to Google Maps which allows users to zoom right into a map and see a close-up view of individuals streets and houses will be rolled out across the UK later this week.

Google today said the pictures include stunning views of Dartmoor, as well as view of military locations such as 3 Commando's base in Stonehouse, the Royal Citadel on the Hoe and Devonport Naval Base.

The service was launched in 25 UK cities last year, and the rest of the country will catch up in three days.

The move will see pictures taken by Google's camera car in Plymouth over the last two years made public. It will see 238,000 miles of imagery from the UK added to the map.

This will bring the UK up to the same level of coverage as countries including the USA, France, Spain and parts of Scandinavia. Street View is available in nearly 20 countries.

Google said the British weather had made the process a lengthy one, as the cars don't operate in snow or heavy rain, meaning some cities took months to cover.

Automatic face and number plate blurring technology protects privacy, but the views show what anyone can see from the street.

This has caused controversy in the past as it means gardens and the fronts of all houses can be seen, even as close as seeing into some windows.

Laura Scott at Google said: "The images on Google Street View are the kind of things you would see if you drove down the street.

"We are aware of sentive locations but if you can see a site from the public road we will take a picture of it."

She said anyone could request a particular image be removed.

Click on the above image to see a larger version.

Click on the above image to see a larger version.

Click on the above image to see a larger version.

There is a simple system alowing people to request their homes are taken off the site, available at Google Maps. Laura Scott said they had spoken to policem who have not reported an increase in burglaries in areas where Street View has been launched.

Google say the service will be great news for local businesses, as well as helping people find directions. It is also used for scouting film locations.

According to The Herald's property website findaproperty 80 per cent of the site's users have used Street View to help with finding a new home.

The company says it has covered almost all the UK, although some streets may have been missed off.

Most of the rural routes in Devon and Cornwall have been covered, although some of the smaler routes are not.

One noteable abscence will be pedestrianised areas such as the centre of Plymouth.

Laura Scott at Google said the company would be talking to Plymouth City Council about getting access to the centre to add images.

Companies and individuals on private property can invite Google to photograph their locations for Street View.

The view will be available on Thursday at www.google.com/maps, with the launch being rolled out from late evening on Wednesday.