TOURISTS can now visit Marlow from anywhere in the world - without even leaving their computer screen - thanks to a new online virtual tour.

Web users will be able to walk into shops, browse the latest range of clothes, look inside a museum or sports centre and take a stroll across the bridge - simply by logging onto the internet.

See links beneath to see the tour for yourself.

A website, which works in a similar fashion to Google Street Map, has been set up by Marlow Chamber of Trade with Duncan Curtis, 44, who has brought the concept over from Canada.

Mr Curtis is working with ten towns across England to develop the virtual tour - the latest being Marlow.

“I figured out there was no competition in the UK for the quality and the type of thing we do. It complements Google, which has an outstanding product, quite nicely.

“What they don't do which we can add on is to see a specific point and jump off the main roads and go inside buildings.

“The idea is we can step off and be very specific like showing people the views from the bridge, inside the church or inside a restaurant or sports centre. It's allowing people to see something visually.”

“It's really an excellent opportunity for stores to show us what they do and how they do it.”

Research has shown that shoppers only visit two to three shops in their town regularly and are often unaware what others there are.

“They can check out what Marlow is like and find places which are interesting to them.”

Although the Marlow site is still in the early stages, it may eventually include tourism information and web links.

A business could produce a presentation video, upload it to You Tube, then link it on the tour so browsers can see what the company does.

It could be eventually extended to other areas such as Marlow Bottom and Globe business park.

If your business is interested in signing up to the scheme contact Marlow Chamber of Trade.

Would you like to see a virtual tour for your town?

What do you think of the idea?