Huge queues outside McDonald's as drive-throughs reopen amid coronavirus lockdown

Hungry Britons waited in a huge queue outside McDonald's as drive-throughs reopened amid the coronavirus lockdown.

A video showed a massive line of cars eagerly waiting to get to the takeaway window of a branch in Sutton on Wednesday.

Locals were shocked when they passed the line of motorists, who had not been able to visit the burger outlet since it shut in March when the lockdown was announced.

A local posted a video of the massive line, tweeting: “My local McDonald’s this morning at 11am in North Cheam, Sutton – it’s been like this all day & is now even worse, we’ve even had a few arguments.

“People really out here risking it for a burger.”

A view of the sign at a McDonald's restaurant and drive-thru in Skegness, Lincolnshire. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
In total, 39 McDonald's drive-throughs are open in the UK. (Getty)

Will Gavin, who posted the clip, wrote: “McDonalds Drive-Thru opened in Sutton today, here's the queue...”

Another user added: “Queues for McDonalds in Sutton today. Truly ridiculous. Shakes head in despair…”

McDonald’s has reopened a total of 39 drive-through outlets and a further five are operating McDelivery only.

Read more: McDonald's customers upset after missing out on delivery due to huge demand

Cars are limited to a £25 spend to make sure everyone can be served in a timely manner, but this hasn’t always worked.

Another Twitter user who witnessed the scenes in Sutton wrote: “Ahhh, good old Sutton.

“The weather there must be marvellous at this time of the year.

“Can’t see what McDonald’s have why people line up in very long queues for though…”

McDonald’s said in a statement on its website: “In order to help our teams practice social distancing, as we open our restaurants, we will have fewer people working on each shift to provide a safer environment particularly when shifts change.

“We’ve also installed additional screens in our kitchens and service areas to aid social distancing and our teams will be wearing protective equipment, including face coverings.

“We've reopened Drive-thru lanes at 39 of our restaurants, plus an additional 5 restaurants are operating McDelivery only.”

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