diff --git a/docs/api.php b/docs/api.php
index abd5016..781eec7 100644
--- a/docs/api.php
+++ b/docs/api.php
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?php 
-    require_once ("include/config.php"); 
+    require_once ("config.php"); 
     require_once ("phpcoord.php");    
             
 $api = new api;
@@ -15,8 +15,12 @@ class api {
 
 	//Constructor
 	function api() {
-		$this->setup();
-		$this->bind();
+		if (isset($_GET['howto'])){
+			$this->howto();
+		} else {
+			$this->setup();
+			$this->bind();
+		}
 	}
 	
     //setup
@@ -72,6 +76,20 @@ class api {
 		
 	}
 
+	//howto
+	function howto() {
+		$form_action = $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
+
+		$smarty = new Smarty;
+		$smarty->force_compile = true;
+		$smarty->compile_dir = SMARTY_COMPILE_DIRECTORY;
+
+		$smarty->assign("page_title","API HOWTO");
+		$smarty->assign("menu_item","api");
+
+		$smarty->display('apihowto.tpl');
+	}
+
 }
 
 
diff --git a/docs/templates/apihowto.tpl b/docs/templates/apihowto.tpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..484ec52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/templates/apihowto.tpl
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{include file="header.tpl"}
+
+<dl class="faq">
+    <dt>PlanningAlerts.com API</dt>
+    <dd>
+		Planning application data is available programmatically as <a href="http://georss.org/">GeoRSS feeds</a>. GeoRSS can be used in most all web mapping APIs and desktop GIS software, and in services like <a href="http://mapufacture.com">mapufacture</a> and <a href="http://pipes.yahoo.com/">Yahoo Pipes</a>.
+		<p/>
+		Construct an api request as follows.
+		Either lat/lng or postcode is required. area_size is always required.<br>
+		<p/>
+		<code>
+		http://www.planningalerts.com/api.php?<br>
+		&nbsp;lat=[some latitude]<br>
+		&nbsp;&lng=[some longitude]<br>
+		&nbsp;&postcode=[some postcode]<br>
+		&nbsp;&area_size=['s' 'm' or 'l']
+		</code>
+		<p/>
+		<a href="http://www.planningalerts.com/api.php?lat=51.52277&lng=-0.067281&area_size=l">an example query</a>
+    </dd>
+</dl>
+{include file="footer.tpl"}
diff --git a/docs/templates/header.tpl b/docs/templates/header.tpl
index 03e4713..4c94397 100644
--- a/docs/templates/header.tpl
+++ b/docs/templates/header.tpl
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
     <div id="divMenu">
         <ul class="collapse">
             <li {if $menu_item =="about"}class="selected"{/if}><a href="about.php">About</a></li>                                     
+			<li {if $menu_item == "api"}class="selected"{/if}><a href="api.php?howto">API</a></li>
+
             <li {if $menu_item =="getinvolved"}class="selected"{/if}><a href="getinvolved.php">Get involved</a></li>                                       
             <li {if $menu_item =="faq"}class="selected"{/if}><a href="faq.php"><acronym title="Frequently asked questions">FAQ</acronym>s</a></li>                
             <li {if $menu_item =="signup"}class="selected"{/if}><a href="/">Signup</a></li>            
@@ -34,4 +36,4 @@
             <div id="divWarning" {if $warnings == ""}class="hide"{/if}>
                 {$warnings}
             </div>
-            
\ No newline at end of file
+