Google Maps rectifies Shrewsbury location blunder

Tourists planning a visit to historic Shrewsbury will no longer be confused into thinking it's situated in the middle of a river in Powys after bosses at Google Maps corrected a major blunder.

The service provided by the Internet search engine giant is supposed to make directions simple for even the most inept map reader.

But people thinking of a short break or holiday to Shropshire's county town may have been put off after Google Maps misplaced Shrewsbury, locating it almost 30 miles away in the middle of a river in a field in Powys.

The mapping blunder meant that anyone logging on to the website searching for the town was directed to a location near Llanfair Caereinon.

The error was spotted by Peter Talliss, of the Anton Guest House in Canon Street, Shrewsbury, who said he was surprised at the mistake.

Mr Talliss said he was concerned the mistake could have affected companies operating in Shrewsbury.

"It was a bit funny, I don't think businesses would be significantly affected but they could have been a little bit, so there was concern about it.

"It might have been more of a worry for people driving to Shrewsbury and ending up in the middle of Powys."

Shropshire Tourism has also been campaigning for the error to be rectified.

Claire Owen, senior marketing officer, today said: "Shropshire Tourism is delighted to report that Shrewsbury is not in a river in Powys anymore."

Officials at Google said the information they use on Google Maps is compiled from a number of sources, adding that they appreciate user feedback.