A FAST food giant is looking to extend the opening hours of one of its Worcester outlets until 5am every day of the week.

People living near McDonald’s on the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole Road, Blackpole, say they fear increased littering in the area and being kept awake all night by noise from ‘boy racers’ if the plans go ahead.

McDonald’s in Blackpole currently stays open until 5am on Fridays and Saturdays but has to close at midnight on every other day of the week.

The company claims to have addressed all potential problems including litter and noise.

But in a letter on behalf of people living off Masons Drive, Matt Brown and Norman James, both of Salters Close, urged Worcester City Council’s licensing sub committee to reject the application.

“We already have an entrenched and growing population of gulls living in the immediate area; all feeding on discarded fast food. Allowing McDonald’s to open for longer will only exacerbate this problem,” they said.

“Many patrons of McDonald’s are boy racer types. Ever since it opened we have been plagued with the problem of boy racers. Blackpole Road is in danger of becoming a race track. Residents are frequently disturbed at night by loud exhausts and roaring engines as these inconsiderate individuals leave the retail park. In particular, Friday and Saturday can be the worse nights. Allowing McDonald’s to open longer will increase these problems.”

In its application McDonald’s said it would extend its litter picking patrols to a nearby area “as far as this is reasonably practicable”, continue to encourage its customers to limit noise, would work with police and council officers to tackle crime and disorder and would ensure CCTV coverage whenever the restaurant is open.

A decision will be made by the licensing sub committee on Monday, October 19.