Revelations that aerial maps of Britain"s key defence sites can be bought on the internet have sparked calls for greater security. The photos cost just £45 each. They are legal, but it is feared they could be used by terrorists following September 11.
The getmapping.com site includes pictures of the Sellafield nuclear power plant, the Aldermaston atomic weapons research centre in Berkshire and the Government"s intelligence building in Cheltenham.
Lord King of Bridgwater, former chairman of the Commons Intelligence Committee, said easy access to such information was dangerous. "We"ve heard President George Bush recognising the need for all modern democratic societies to tighten up on their security.
This is the classic illustration. Of course it may be available elsewhere, but you don"t need to make it easy for people," he said.
Tristram Carey, getmapping.com"s managing director, insisted his company had behaved responsibly.