function validate_required(field, alerttxt) {
    with (field) {
        if (value == null || value == "") {
            alert(alerttxt); return false;
        }
        else {
            return true;
        }
    }
}

function validate_form(thisform) {
    with (thisform) {
        if (validate_required(ctl00_txtsearch, "Please enter a search term.") == false)
        { ctl00_txtsearch.focus(); return false; }
    }
}

function clearInput(ss) {
    document.getElementById(ss).value = '';
}
function removesearch() {
    if (document.getElementById("ctl00_txtsearch").value == "example: Police") {
        document.getElementById("ctl00_txtsearch").value = "";
    }
    if (document.getElementById("ctl00_txtsearch").value == document.getElementById("ctl00_prevText").value) {
        document.getElementById("ctl00_txtsearch").value = "";
    }
    if (document.getElementById("ctl00_txtsearch").value == "example: Daily Star") {
        document.getElementById("ctl00_txtsearch").value = "";
    }
    if (document.getElementById("ctl00_txtsearch").value == "example: TN25 7HU") {
        document.getElementById("ctl00_txtsearch").value = "";
    }
    if (document.getElementById("ctl00_txtsearch").value == "example: Newsquest") {
        document.getElementById("ctl00_txtsearch").value = "";
    }
}