A BUSH Hill Park family say they have been broken into for the first time in 32 years after their house appeared on Google Street View.

The family, who asked not to be identified for fear of another break-in, called the website an “abhorrent intrusion”.

The mother in the family said another house had also been burgled in the same street.

“I just wonder how many other people are aware of this abhorrent intrusion into our privacy,” she said.

“Has anyone else been targeted? I am sure that there are many people who like us are not computer or internet wise, who are completely unaware of what is going on.”

Google's Street View service provides 360-degree images of streets and everything in them taken from cars with cameras and GPS systems, on the internet.

It launched in the US in 2007 and in 25 of Britain’s towns and cities in March, prompting concern from privacy campaigners and individuals who found their photographs on the site.

So far cities in the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK have all been mapped in this way.

However last week Greece barred the Google cars from taking any more photographs on their streets until the company could provide the country’s data protection watchdog with more information.

The Hellenic Data Protection Authority asked Google how long the images would be kept on Google's database and what steps the company has taken to inform residents about encroachments on their privacy.

Last month, residents in a village near Milton Keynes blocked the road to stop the driver of a Google van entering their streets.

Not everyone is wary of the new service, however.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson called the service a “superb new tool” when it was launched in London.

"It is simply fascinating, even for a Londoner like me to whiz over Westminster Bridge past the Houses of Parliament, soak up the majesty of Regent's Park, take in the stupendous views from Primrose Hill or simply wander around the streets near where I live,” he said.

Google representatives said the company takes privacy seriously and will blur or rub out images of people or houses on request.

The company said it consulted the Government's information and privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner before launching the service.

Last month the Commissioner also ruled in favour of Google Street View saying “common sense must prevail” over minor privacy worries.

Have you had any problems with the service? Contact Sarah Cosgrove on 020 8884 7415.