A software developer has created a virtual map of Brighton and Hove city centre to make it easier for visitors to find their way around the city's shopping precincts.

Stuart Hogton, director of Chichesterbased Visit 3D, said the online map would allow tourists to get their bearings from the comfort of their home before venturing into the city.

The website www.visit-3d.co.uk hosts an intricate 3D model of the city centre and individual buildings. It is, Stuart claims, is more accurate than conventional maps.

It also acts as a business directory. Stuart has listed the main shops, restaurants, pubs and theatres free of charge but owners can pay a premium if they want to add more detail.

The 32-year-old, who also makes virtual worlds for computer games, has already started building a site for Bath and hopes to take the concept nationwide over the next few years.

Users can search for businesses, museums and libraries, either by type or by the name of the specific organisation, and can see the exact building in which it is located.

Mr Hogton said: "I developed the site because I found traditional maps lacking in detail and could never find the places I was looking for. Our maps are much more detailed - the streets are not artificially widened to account for street names, so the layout is much more realistic and accurate.

"The maps separate specific groups of buildings and they detail key landmarks to make it easier to identify where you are, not just by street name but by the actual surroundings."

Visitors to the site can zoom in and out of the map to look at specific details. The animation also features cars and buses driving on the roads to give a more realistic impression.

Stuart has spent 12 months developing the Brighton Visit 3D site. At the moment it covers just central Brighton but the plan is to expand the map to cover the rest of the city.

Maps of other city centres will gradually be added to the site.

Mr Hogton said: "I chose Brighton as Visit 3D's first city because it has a vibrant, tech-savvy community.

"It also has some very tightly packed areas such as the Lanes, which I wanted to make easier for people to find their way around.

"Britain is full of historic towns with narrow, windy streets and the site will be most useful for those. We have already started on Bath and York is next on the list."