Google, the US search giant, unveiled a new way to filter search results based on a user's location.

The Nearby tool is an option users can check that will drill down search results to be relevant to the user's current vicinity.

Starting today, we've added the ability to refine your searches with the 'Nearby' tool in the Search Options panel, explained Google product manager Jackie Bavaro in a blog post.

One of the really helpful things about this tool is that it works geographically -- not just with keywords -- so you don't have to worry about adding 'Minneapolis' to your query and missing Web pages that only say 'St. Paul' or 'Twin Cities.'

Users can also enter other cities or zip-codes to search through other areas.

Google's addition of a location awareness option in searches from desktop computers follows the company's introduction of a similar service for mobile devices in January.

Google