FAST-food fans will be pleased to hear Kentucky Fried Chicken is coming to Worcester.

For years, people have been travelling to Hereford or Merry Hill for their finger lickin' fix.

The online networking site Facebook even has a special group called KFC in Worcester dedicated to campaigning for the firm to open an outlet in the city. The group boasts 318 members.

Member Chloe Walker wrote: "We just drove to Cheltenham purely for KFC for the second time (usually we get it on the way to somewhere). Would save on petrol if there was one in Worcester!"

Marc Stuart wrote: "Worcester can't call itself a city without a KFC."

Kirsty Gray wrote: "KFC in Worcester get it done."

James Griffin wrote: "I don't understand why we don't have a KFC in worcester.

"It would make so much money too. It just makes me speechless!

"The only time I get KFC is on the way or way back from university on the motorway."

Your Worcester News can now reveal the take-away giant is bowing to popular demand and building a drive-through in the city.

A KFC spokesman said: "Due to popular demand in the area, we can confirm we will be opening a drive-through restaurant on Elgar Retail Park towards the end of the year."

Two years ago, city residents were disappointed when KFC pulled out of opening a new take-away, despite winning approval from Worcester City Council's planning committee. They received the green light in April, 2005, to build a drive-through in the Blackpole Retail Park, but were asked to spend £20,000 on road improvements.

At the time they declined to comment on whether they were reluctant to spend money on road infrastructure - instead insisting it was searching for suitable locations elsewhere.

The latest plan, approved by the planning committee in February this year, is for a 295 sq m (968 sq ft) restaurant drive-through to be built on the existing car-park.

In return for planning permission, the company must invest £50,500 in improvements to sustainable transport in the area - this could include to park-and-ride, public transport or pedestrian and cycle facilities.

And its planning proposals reveal the company is also looking for a city centre site.

"The company is not represented in Worcester at present but has a requirement for the city centre as well as the current proposal," it states.

"The company will continue to search for suitable premises in the city centre."