The BBC's decision to switch from the traditional flat weather map to a so-called "virtual reality weather map" - introduced on Monday - has caused a bit of a rumpus among viewers, not least those of us at Vulture Central who like our weather flat, with fronts, pressures and wind directions clearly marked, and sun and cloud symbols to tell us where it's hot and where it most certainly is not.

The Beeb itself admits that it received 240 complaints about the new format, and little wonder. Jamie May, of Ticehurst, East Sussex, thundered: "I don't think the graphics are up to the BBC's usual high standard. It seems to copy the commercial channels' rather juvenile and too literal presentation."

We agree. Gone are the isobars and cold fronts, in comes the swooping "pilot's eye" view which doesn't actually provide any sort of clear picture about what the hell is going on. And if you live in Scotland, it gets worse...

SNP MP for the Western Isles, Angus MacNeil, has slammed the new map as having a southern bias which makes it difficult for his fellow countrymen to get a proper forecast. Accordingly, he has filed Early Day Motion at Westminster "calling on the BBC to rethink the new weather graphics". And quite right too, although we can give Mr MacNeil a forecast for the Western Isles right now without the use of satellite technology of sophisticated 3-D graphical rendering: it's raining and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Those readers who share our disgust at the new BBC weather map are invited to join us for a pint at the Ye Olde Boy in Witheringspoonhampton. We'll be the ones in the snug muttering about when we were lads kids had proper respect for their parents and you could get a yard of ale for tuppence and still have change from a tanner to see George Formby at the Odeon, etc, etc, etc. ®

Related stories

BBC Weather goes 3D
Luddite Reg readers want flat weather, please