COLCHESTER businesses have hit out at internet giant Google for failing to remove incorrect and insulting reviews on its website.

The maps.google.co.uk website contains reviews which come up when visitors search for tourist attractions, businesses, restaurants, pubs and other destinations.

Someone posting as “Martin Henson” has written negative reviews of 20 shops, restaurants and pubs in and around Colchester, but mainly in Stanway.

He claims at one restaurant: “I ordered a salad but they gave me dogs muck on a plate”, while at another he warns: “Eat here and you will be ill!”

One popular real ale pub is described as a “dirty place”, while another is portrayed as a “home for the unwashed”.

The reviews claimed a garden centre had a waitress with Tourette’s who “randomly shouts out offensive words”.

A garden centre spokesman said: “The comment is not true, and we don’t employ any waitresses that have Tourette’s.

Bosses of at least two of the businesses insulted by the comments have contacted Google to get them removed, but say they have heard nothing back.

David Wilde, at Colchester A1 Models, in London Road, said: “What he has said about a lot of companies, including ourselves, is totally unfounded.

“I’d like to know what we have done to him to cause him to do this. I would certainly like to take ours off, but they could be up there for months.”

Marks Tey Discount Petfoods, in Coggeshall Road, is accused of killing Martin Henson’s dog by selling out-of-date food, something a spokesman dismissed as “totally inappropriate and total lies”.

The spokesman said: “As soon as they’re reported to Google as an inappropriate review, they should be taking action straight away.”

But a spokesman for Google confirmed there were no plans to remove the comments, unless they are in “clear violation of our policies”. She said: “Google provides reviews on Google Maps to help users make informed decisions on businesses and services.

“The vast majority of reviews on Google Maps are legitimate. If you believe a review violates our comment posting policy, please bring it to our attention by flagging it as inappropriate.

“However, reviews on Google Maps are intended as a means for users to share their opinions.

“We don’t take sides or mediate disputes and, hence, rarely remove reviews, and only if they are in clear violation of our policies.”