A McDONALD’S restaurant has applied to extend its opening to 24 hours a day.

Franchisee Craig Newnes, who runs the drive-through in Tollgate West, has applied to open through the night.

He says the longer opening hours will create 15 jobs.

The fast food restaurant now opens from 6am until 11pm.

Mr Newnes, who runs three McDonald’s in Colchester, said: “Many of our customers, such as emergency service workers, work late nights and are looking for somewhere to have a bite to eat.

“Extending my trading hours will make this possible.

“This will also enable me to create at least 15 new jobs and provide a more convenient service to customers.”

Mr Newnes hopes to introduce the new hours in the new year, if he gets permission from Colchester Council’s licensing committee.

He said: “My main priority is to be a good neighbour within the local area.”

The McDonald’s in Cowdary Avenue is already open 24 hours a day.

Laura Sykes, borough councillor for Stanway, said: “I don’t have any objections.

It is quite busy around that area.

“People are out and about at so many different times of the day now with shift patterns and different work patterns.

“I’m quite partial to a McDonald’s occasionally. If we have been at a meeting and we come back late it is handy to have a snack.”

In the past there have been issues with boy racers in the nearby Sainsbury’s car park.

Mrs Sykes added: “I don’t think it will attract people hanging about making trouble.

If they do the police should tackle it.”