function validate() {
	// first check that a search term has been entered
	if (typeof(searchform.q.value) != "undefined") {
		var retValue = searchform.q.value;
	    var ch = retValue.substring(0, 1);
	    while (ch == " ") { // Check for spaces at the beginning of the string
	       retValue = retValue.substring(1, retValue.length);
	       ch = retValue.substring(0, 1);
	}
	
	ch = retValue.substring(retValue.length-1, retValue.length);
	
	while (ch == " ") { // Check for spaces at the end of the string
		retValue = retValue.substring(0, retValue.length-1);
	    ch = retValue.substring(retValue.length-1, retValue.length);
	}

	if (retValue == '') {
		alert("Teipiwch rhywbeth i'w chwilio yn y blwch os gwelwch yn dda.");
		searchform.q.value = '';
		return false; 
		}
	}
}