Latest Channel 4 News:
Row over Malaysian state's coins
'Four shot at abandoned mine shaft'
Rain fails to stop Moscow wildfires
Cancer blow for identical twins
Need for Afghan progress 'signs'

Google Street View sparks 'horse-boy' mystery

By Stuart McTeer

Updated on 24 June 2010

The hunt is on to unmask this mystery figure captured by Google Street View cameras down a suburban street in Aberdeen, an image which has sparked a web frenzy.

Horse-boy on Street View (Credit: Google)

The image was caught as the Google Street View cameras took 360 degree images of ninety five per cent of all the UK's streets.

The strange figure with a horse's head, purple shirt and black jeans can be seen watching the Google camera car drive past as it travelled down Hardgate in Aberdeen.

It was spotted by Aberdeen Twitter user Russell Moffat, who told his 460 followers about the unlikely passer-by. The story was quickly picked up by media around the world.

"It's all gone a bit mental," Mr Moffatt told his followers tonight.

Despite appeals to reveal their identity, no-one has come forward to admit they were the man (or woman) behind the mask.


View Larger Map

The Street View cameras may have earlier caught the back of the "horse-boy" - showing they also have a ponytail. 

Another image appears to show them putting on the horse's head - although it is not possible to zoom in far enough to see their identity.


View Larger Map

Google Street View has proved a controversial hit since its arrival in Britain in March 2009.

Critics said it invaded people's privacy, although Google said anyone could apply to have an image taken down.

Last month the internet giant apologised after it emerged the cars taking the photographs had also mistakenly captured WiFi data from public networks in more than 30 countries.

However some images have also proved somewhat baffling hits.


View Larger Map

When Street View images were published of Norway in February, two frogmen were shown chasing the Google camera car waving their fish spears.

Send this article by email

More on this story

Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of external websites.


Watch the Latest Channel 4 News

Watch Channel 4 News when you want

Latest Science Technology & Environment news

More News blogs

View RSS feed

Autism breakthrough

image

A new brain scan could diagnose autism in 15 minutes.

New superbug

image

"Medical tourism" spreads a new superbug to the UK.

Oil spill: BP 'failed'

BP oil spill

Professor Rick Steiner asks why killing the blowout took so long.

A new energy source?

image

Exclusive access inside the UK's first shale gas well.

Most watched

image

Find out which reports and videos are getting people clicking online.




Channel 4 © 2010. Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of external websites.