Geocode an address using Google API

geocode.php

<?php

/**
 * Geocodes an address using Google API (limit 2500/day).
 *
 * @param  string $address - Address to be geocoded.
 * @param  string [$region=gb] - Region results are to biased to.
 * @return object {lat, lon, status, address}.
 */
function geocode($address, $region='gb')
{
    // qv developers.google.com/maps/documentation/geocoding

    $locn = (object)array('lat'=>null, 'lon'=>null, 'status'=>null, 'address'=>null);

    $url = 'http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json';
    $arg = array('address'=>$address, 'region'=>$region);
    $qry = http_build_query($arg);

    $json = json_decode(file_get_contents($url.'?'.$qry));

    if ($json->status != 'OK') {
        $locn->status = $json->status;
        return $locn;
    }

    $locn->status = 'OK';
    $locn->lat = $json->results[0]->geometry->location->lat;
    $locn->lon = $json->results[0]->geometry->location->lng;
    $locn->address = $json->results[0]->formatted_address;

    return $locn;
}