//<![CDATA[


    if (GBrowserIsCompatible()) {
      
      // this variable will collect the html which will eventually be placed in the side_bar
      var side_bar_html = "";
    
      // arrays to hold copies of the markers and html used by the side_bar
      // because the function closure trick doesnt work there
      var gmarkers = [];

      // A function to create the marker and set up the event window
      function createMarker(point,name,html) {
		var icon = new GIcon();
        var num = (gmarkers.length)+1;
        icon.image = "_img/icons/mapicon_" + num + ".png";
		//icon.image = "_img/icons/mapicon2.png";
		icon.shadow = "_img/icons/shadow-mapicon2.png";
		icon.iconSize = new GSize(20.0, 30.0);
		icon.shadowSize = new GSize(36.0, 30.0);
		icon.iconAnchor = new GPoint(10.0, 15.0);
		icon.infoWindowAnchor = new GPoint(10.0, 15.0);
		var marker = new GMarker(point, icon);
        GEvent.addListener(marker, "click", function() {
          marker.openInfoWindowHtml(html);
        });
        // save the info we need to use later for the side_bar
        gmarkers.push(marker);
        // add a line to the side_bar html
        side_bar_html += '<a href="javascript:myclick(' + (gmarkers.length-1) + ')">' + name + '<\/a><br>';
      	document.getElementById("side_bar").innerHTML = side_bar_html;
		return marker;
      }


      // This function picks up the click and opens the corresponding info window
      function myclick(i) {
        GEvent.trigger(gmarkers[i], "click");
      }


      // create the map
      var map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("googleMap"));
      map.addControl(new GSmallMapControl());
      map.addControl(new GMapTypeControl());
      map.setCenter(new GLatLng( 53.995618,-1.54614), 13);
                       
    }

    else {
      alert("Sorry, the Google Maps API is not compatible with this browser");
    }

    // This Javascript is based on code provided by the
    // Blackpool Community Church Javascript Team
    // http://www.commchurch.freeserve.co.uk/   
    // http://econym.googlepages.com/index.htm

    //]]>