GOOGLE Street View cars have been spotted out and about photographing Dorset streets.

The internet giant’s fleet of black cars have been driving around compiling a 3D view of the area for the Google maps website.

One of the black Google cars was spotted on the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth morning and other sightings were reported earlier this month.

The distinct cars have a camera and tripod on the roof and take still photos of streets every few metres.

Images are then stitched together to create a photographic representation of the street.

At the click of a mouse, internet users will be able to enjoy views of Weymouth Bay from the Esplanade and journey along the causeway to Portland.

Street views of major cities and some towns in the UK – including London, Bristol and Southampton – have already gone live on the net.

A Google spokesman said a date had yet to be set for when images of Dorset would go online.

The major mapping project recently caused controversy when residents in a Cambridgeshire village formed a human chain to block a Google car.

They claimed that their privacy was being invaded and the images would be ‘an invitation for burglars to strike’. Weymouth and Dorchester residents have mixed views on the project.

Morris Allen, chairman of the Poundbury Residents’ Association, said: “My view is that I would be a bit concerned there may be a perception that Poundbury is a rich neighbourhood.

“Serious crime isn’t a problem here, but I wouldn’t want to invite it.

“I think that people who are looking to do burglary will use Street View.”

John Gilliard, of the Charlton Down Residents’ Association, said he could understand people’s concerns about the project.

“But on the other hand, as a relatively new development on Charlton Down, identifying locations could be quite wonderful because some of the maps online are pretty inaccurate or sketchy.

“In a way, this is no different from an estate agent taking pictures of houses,” he said.

Littlemoor Tenants’ Association member Susan Charlton said: “There are pros and cons to it.

“Some people may think it is infringing their rights but it is being done in a sympathetic way in public places. I think that it is good to have street views of towns, but not such a good idea for rural areas.”