PROGRESS work is being made on a new fast food restaurant set to swing open its doors this year.

Roofing sheets and freshly laid tarmac can be seen at the soon-to-be-open McDonald's at Oubas Hill in Ulverston.

Construction work finally begun on building the fast food giant at the end of July after more than two years of delays.

The site, containing a restaurant and drive-thru, is expected to create at least 65 full and part-time jobs for local people

Plans were approved by South Lakeland District Council in August to install six fascia signs at Ulverston's newest fast food restaurant.

McDonald’s chiefs had previously revealed the site would be set to open before mid-2020 after they were given the green light by South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee in June 2019.

However, this was delayed due to the issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Mail revealed last month that customers could be enjoying a Big Mac before Christmas, with plans to open the long-anticipated restaurant in early December.

A spokesman for McDonald's said the opening date is subject to change dependent on construction timelines but that the current plan is for an early December opening.

When the plans were first brought to SLDC, there were 157 letters of objection, plus 47 letters and a petition in support.

However, the planning committee still recommended the fast food giant for approval.

Concerns from objectors were raised over the impact on local businesses, consequent environmental and health factors such as litter-dropping and obesity levels, as well as the new site affecting traffic congestion on the nearby A590.

A McDonald’s spokesman said a number of measures were being put in place to prevent litter-dropping around the area of the restaurant.

She said: "To help combat litter, the restaurant team carries out at least three litter patrols a day, as do all of our restaurants across the UK.

"All of our restaurant crew members are trained in how to dispose of litter effectively and provided with a litter patrol route to follow which includes details of any potential litter hot spots.

"Large bins will also be located outside of our restaurant for customers to use to dispose of any litter."