diff --git a/c/vdmclib/src/main/VdmMap.c b/c/vdmclib/src/main/VdmMap.c
index dc6de523..840d7007 100644
--- a/c/vdmclib/src/main/VdmMap.c
+++ b/c/vdmclib/src/main/VdmMap.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "VdmMap.h"
 
 #include <stdio.h> //FIXME remove all printf!
+#include <stdarg.h>
 
 #define ASSERT_CHECK(s) assert(s->type == VDM_MAP && "Value is not a map")
 
@@ -213,7 +214,6 @@ TVP vdmMapRng(TVP map)
 #else
 
 
-
 hashtable_t *ht_create( int size ) {
 
 	hashtable_t *hashtable = NULL;
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ TVP ht_get( hashtable_t *hashtable, TVP key ) {
 
 
 
-struct TypedValue* newMap()
+TVP newMap()
 {
 	struct Map* ptr = (struct Map*) malloc(sizeof(struct Map));
 	//TODO:  work out initial size.
@@ -399,6 +399,35 @@ struct TypedValue* newMap()
 }
 
 
+TVP newMapVarToGrow(size_t size, size_t expected_size, ...)
+{
+	struct Map* ptr = (struct Map*) malloc(sizeof(struct Map));
+	TVP key;
+	TVP value;
+	TVP theMap;
+
+	ptr->table =  ht_create(expected_size);
+	theMap = newTypeValue(VDM_MAP, (TypedValueType){ .ptr = ptr });
+
+	va_list argList;
+	va_start(argList, size * 2);
+
+	for(int i = 0; i < size; i++)
+	{
+		key = vdmClone(va_arg(argList, TVP));
+		value = vdmClone(va_arg(argList, TVP));
+
+		vdmMapAdd(theMap, key, value);
+
+		vdmFree(key);
+		vdmFree(value);
+	}
+	va_end(argList);
+
+	return theMap;
+
+}
+
 
 void vdmMapAdd(TVP map, TVP key, TVP value)
 {
diff --git a/c/vdmclib/src/main/VdmMap.h b/c/vdmclib/src/main/VdmMap.h
index 511bace1..092a7e55 100644
--- a/c/vdmclib/src/main/VdmMap.h
+++ b/c/vdmclib/src/main/VdmMap.h
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ struct TypedValue* newMap();
 //util method for adding maplets
 void vdmMapAdd(TVP map,TVP key, TVP value);
 
+TVP newMapVarToGrow(size_t, size_t, ...);
+
 //VDM map operators
 TVP vdmMapDom(TVP map);
 TVP vdmMapRng(TVP map);
diff --git a/c/vdmclib/src/test/ExpressionsMap_Tests.cpp b/c/vdmclib/src/test/ExpressionsMap_Tests.cpp
index a7e06e79..19ccb94d 100644
--- a/c/vdmclib/src/test/ExpressionsMap_Tests.cpp
+++ b/c/vdmclib/src/test/ExpressionsMap_Tests.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ TVP createMap1()
 	//{}
 	TVP map = newMap();
 
-//	//maplet1 1|->2
+	//	//maplet1 1|->2
 	TVP key1 = newInt(1);
 	TVP val1 =newInt(2);
 	vdmMapAdd(map,key1,val1);
@@ -383,3 +383,37 @@ TEST(Expression_Map, mapInEquals)
 	bool map_not_eq2 = vdmMapInEquals(map1,map3);
 	EXPECT_EQ(true, map_not_eq2);
 }
+
+
+TEST(Expression_Map, newMapVarToGrow)
+{
+	TVP theMap = newMapVarToGrow(3, 10, newChar('a'), newInt(1), newChar('b'), newInt(2), newChar('c'), newInt(3));
+	TVP val;
+	TVP res;
+
+	val = vdmMapApply(theMap, newChar('a'));
+	res = vdmEquals(val, newInt(1));
+	EXPECT_EQ(true, res->value.boolVal);
+	vdmFree(val);
+	vdmFree(res);
+
+	val = vdmMapApply(theMap, newChar('b'));
+	res = vdmEquals(val, newInt(2));
+	EXPECT_EQ(true, res->value.boolVal);
+	vdmFree(val);
+	vdmFree(res);
+
+	val = vdmMapApply(theMap, newChar('c'));
+	res = vdmEquals(val, newInt(3));
+	EXPECT_EQ(true, res->value.boolVal);
+	vdmFree(val);
+	vdmFree(res);
+
+	val = vdmMapApply(theMap, newChar('c'));
+	res = vdmEquals(val, newInt(4));
+	EXPECT_EQ(false, res->value.boolVal);
+	vdmFree(val);
+	vdmFree(res);
+
+	vdmFree(theMap);
+}