McDonald’s has confirmed rumours that it will open a fifth restaurant in High Wycombe at the current Pizza Hut site on Ryemead Way.

Staff at the Pizza Hut in Wycombe Retail Park told customers last week that the Italian chain's local branch would close this month after its lease expired.

Wycombe resident Robin Gardner said he was told by a server at the end of August that McDonald’s was lined up to take its place – adding that he was “shocked” at the prospect of a fifth burger chain in the town.

The multinational corporation must have its reasons for targeting the area, however, as franchisee owner and operator of Wycombe’s McDonald’s sites Alan Butchers confirmed plans for the new branch to this newspaper today, Tuesday, September 3.

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Mr Butchers said: “We are excited to open a new restaurant in High Wycombe, bringing significant investment and creating up to 60 more full and part-time jobs for the local community.

“We look forward to further contributing to the local community, continuing the fantastic work done in our other High Wycombe restaurants including daily litter picks and fundraising for Ronald McDonald House Charities.”

The four other McDonald’s sites in the town are on the High Street, Dovecot Road, Holmers Farm Way and Crest Road, the latest of which opened in April this year.