Has Google found the Loch Ness Monster?

From midnight last night, Google users were able to search for the Loch Ness Monster in the first project of its kind.

The project is a collaboration between Visit Scotland and Google.

Adrian Shine, leader of the Loch Ness Project, has been helping Google with the mission.

Mr Shine spent several days with the Google Street View and Catlin Seaview Survey teams, as they performed an undercover operation to photograph above and below the waters that host the famous monster - Nessie.

The launch date coincides with the most famous photograph of the Loch Ness Monster - the 'Surgeon's Photograph' which was published in the Daily Mail on April 21 1934.

Loch Ness is famous throughout the world, not only for the mythical icon that is Nessie, but as an area of outstanding natural beauty.

VisitScotland hopes the global project will heighten the profile of Loch Ness and Scotland inspiring people worldwide to discover the country.

Mr Shine said:"To search for the Yeti, you'd have to spend days trekking through the Himalayas; for Big Foot, you'd have to take a deep hike into the forests of North America, but if you want to look for our much loved Scottish monster, all you have to do is travel to Loch Ness and enjoy a beautiful stroll around its waters.

"Nessie is the most accessible cryptid in the world."

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland said:"The Street View project is hugely exciting and we are delighted the team at Google have been as inspired about our monster as the hundreds and thousands of visitors who travel to Loch Ness every year hoping to catch a glimpse.

"Nessie is an enduring icon of Scotland - a character, a legend, a myth - whatever you want to call her, visitors from across the globe have been intrigued by her for more than 80 years.

"However, even without catching sight of the monster, the landscapes in and around Loch Ness are simply breath-taking and I would encourage everyone to add a trip here to their bucket list."