McDonald’s has revealed the opening date for its fifth restaurant in High Wycombe – after locals described the arrival of yet another fast-food outlet in the town as ‘utter madness’.

The burger chain confirmed it was taking over the former Pizza Hunt branch on Ryemead Way near Wycombe Retail Park at the beginning of September – making the site the corporation’s fifth branch in the town alongside spots on the High Street, Dovecot Road, Holmers Farm Way and Crest Road.

And a spokesperson for McDonald’s has now confirmed that the restaurant will open its doors “in early 2025” after submitting plans for a redesign of the unit including new signage and branding.

Franchisee owner Alan Butchers described the new branch as an opportunity for “significant local investment” that would create 60 full and part-time jobs and give back to the community through “daily litter picks and fundraising for Ronald McDonald House Charities”.

READ MORE: Wycombe's Pizza Hut donates surplus food to charity ahead of McDonald's arrival

Wycombe residents weren’t so sure about the new arrival, however – with reactions on social media ranging from Nikita Kukjans’ mild confusion over “not seeing the appeal” of a fifth branch to Amanda Stringer’s full-throated declaration that there were “enough McDonald’s in this bl***y town” already.

Some were more optimistic at the prospect of a new local site, however - Simon Hallas simply wrote, "I'm loving it" while Julian Walters suggested that the branch would mean people living nearby wouldn't have to venture into the town centre or to Beaconsfield Services to get their fix, urging them to "let East Wycombe have one".