Location, location, location

The subject was the dangers of war and the writer was one of the "poor bloody infantry" who had slogged his way through France and then back again fighting Hitler 60 years before.

"Never mind the enemy," he wrote.

"In the infantry we always reckoned the two biggest dangers were a sailor with a gun and an officer with a map."

Now this of course couldn't be true, could it?

Leaving aside the capabilities of a midshipman to hit a barn door, for people living in the countryside, maps are one of those things they often wish they had, but don't.

It might not matter too much where the local bridle paths and footpaths are if you wake up in your terraced townhouse on a Sunday morning.

But out where the air is fresh and clean it is handy to know where you can legally wander and where you can't.

For that reason alone, an Ordnance Survey map is very useful. Intrepid ramblers, cross-country mountain bikers and hikers find them invaluable and can often be found with a fistful sticking out of the front pocket of their waterproofs.

For the rest of us such indulgence for occasional use does not come high on the list of household essentials.

Sometimes, annoyingly often actually, it's because where we live is near the edge of a standard OS map and to travel off in that direction requires buying another. So we end up buying neither.

Now this problem has been solved and along with it a chance to send one of the more unique Christmas presents anyone will receive this year.

Because Ordnance Survey can supply a map with any location you chose at the centre, whether it's your own home, holiday destination or favourite country area.

The cross-country distance from the centre of the map to the edge is around 10-12 miles, giving a total spread of 20-25 miles, which should be far enough for anyone to cycle or walk in a day.

Each map is individual and can be named after the location it centres on.

So you could have the Rose Cottage map, the Dunromin Caravan Park map or the British Camp map.

It will feature every town, village and hamlet in the area, show all the roads, footpaths and bridle paths in detail and pinpoint all the leisure facilities.

In short, everything you would expect on an OS Map of 1:25,000 scale.

This new range of maps is called OS Select and each can be supplied in a water-resistant clear plastic wallet to help it stand up to the ravages of the British weather.

"This is a real revolution in the way we deliver maps," says Jeremy Stokes, Ordnance Survey's marketing manager.

"OS Select offers our customers more choice than ever before. They can order an Ordnance Survey map that is as durable as those on sale in shops, but without having to stick to an area covered by our off-the-shelf ranges.

"If you want to carry your map around in your rucksack or car, you can have it supplied already folded.

"Or you can have your map supplied flat if you want to display it as a feature on your wall. You can even choose your own title and panel illustration to make your map totally unique.

"It's often difficult to know what to buy friends and relatives for Christmas.

"An OS Select map could provide the perfect solution as a really novel gift for outdoor enthusiasts."

OS Select maps can be ordered direct from Ordnance Survey or from its approved distributors and here is where we come to the second part of this countryside mapping story.

One of the approved outlets is The Map Shop in Upton-upon-Severn, but the other is a division of Laser Surveys, a company that has touched the lives of most people in Worcestershire at one time or another since it was set up by Mark Walker 27 years ago.

Based in a converted coach house in the hamlet of Leigh, between the villages of Bransford and Alfrick, Laser Surveys is a surveying and mapping enterprise that has worked on some of the best known projects in the county.

The CrownGate redevelopment in the heart of Worcester was one, so was the County Hall building in Spetchley Road. Sabrina Bridge across the River Severn on to Worcester racecourse was another, as was Croome Landscape Park for the National Trust, between Upton and Pershore.

Further afield, Laser has worked on Clifton Suspension Bridge at Bristol, Canary Wharf in London and the new baggage handling system at Gatwick airport north terminal.

So it all goes on in sleepy Leigh.

One division of Laser is called Centremaps and it is through this the company distributes for Ordnance Survey.

A call to HQ at Leigh and all the information required is fed into a computer which turns out the required customised and personalised Select map in around 10 minutes.

At present, the new maps are available only from Ordnance Survey, but the other outlets will be selling them early in the New Year.

Father Christmas has already put his order in.

OS Select centred maps will be available in due course from Centremaps at Leigh (01886 8333173), The Map Shop at Upton (01684 593146) or direct from Ordnance Survey (0845 200 2712). They will cost between £7 to £17 depending on the outlet.