Have you seen the Google Maps car and backpacker updating the global giant’s map and imagery of the Chester street scene?

Google’s web mapping service offers satellite imagery, street maps, 360° panoramic views of streets, real-time traffic conditions and route planning for travelling by foot, car, bicycle or public transport.

However, the data has to be periodically updated because our environment is constantly changing as some buildings change use or are knocked down to make way for brand new office blocks, homes and shops.

The Google Maps car parked up at Chester's Greyhound Retail Park as the driver popped into Subway.

Google Maps’ satellite view is a ‘birds eye’ view; most of the high-resolution imagery of cities is aerial photography taken from a low-flying aircraft, while most other imagery is from satellites.

The distinctive-looking Google Maps car, which features a high tech camera with 15 lenses mounted on the roof, covers the changing road network.

While less accessible areas such as pedestrianised streets are mapped by a person carrying a backpack incorporating a portable version of the camera.

Both the car and the backpacker have been spotted around Chester over the past week.

Google Street View attracted much controversy after its release because of privacy concerns about the uncensored nature of the panoramic photographs.

Since then, Google has begun blurring faces and number plates through automatic and face detection.

The Google driver parked up at Chester's Greyhound Retail Park was happy for a photo to be taken of the vehicle, but told our reporter to keep his distance, and was unable to say how often the the Street View images were updated.

The Google Maps car parked up at Chester's Greyhound Retail Park as the driver popped into Subway.