A HORRIFIED mum-of-two watched in disbelief as a mouse ran across the floor of a McDonald's restaurant.

Danielle Burns and her two children, aged five and six, had just sat down to enjoy a meal at the King William Street branch in Blackburn town centre when she saw the rodent.

Yesterday McDonald's apologised 'unreservedly' following the incident and said it had immediately launched an investigation.

The fast-food chain said it also closed the restaurant for a period of time to allow an independent health and hygiene specialist to conduct a thorough inspection.

Ms Burns said she saw the mouse running across the floor from the tills/kitchen area of the store at around 4.20pm on Monday.

The 24-year-old said she ran out of the store with her kids in fright before making a complaint to McDonald's and council bosses.

Following the inspection, the restaurant re-opened and operated as normal from yesterday morning.

But Ms Burns, who lives with children Riley and Steven Ashton in Devon Road, Intack said she was left 'disgusted' by the incident.

She said: "I was out shopping for school uniforms for my two children and decided we would have a McDonald's as a treat.

"So I ordered a Happy Meal for the kids and a Big Mac for myself and we sat down and that's when I was disgusted to discover a mouse running along the restaurant floor.

"It had come from the direction of the tills and kitchen area of the store and came right towards us.

"I was horrified and ran straight out of the restaurant with my children."

Ms Burns said she complained to Blackburn with Darwen Council and the McDonald's customer service team.

She said: "I spoke to someone on the phone who apologised and said that this shouldn't have happened and that they would be investigating the incident.

"I was just left shocked by the incident as you don't expect to see a mouse when you're eating in any restaurant, let alone a big chain such as McDonald's.

"It's a real food hygiene issue and needs to be addressed."

A McDonald's spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise unreservedly to our customers for their experience at our King William Street restaurant on August 14.

"Hygiene and safety are of the upmost importance to us and as soon as this matter was brought to our attention, the restaurant team immediately launched an investigation and closed the restaurant for a period of time to allow an independent health and hygiene specialist to conduct a thorough inspection.

"Following the inspection, the restaurant re-opened and has operated as normal from yesterday morning.

“Our Customer Services team will be in touch with Ms Burns shortly to discuss the matter and to apologise for her family’s experience. We hope to welcome her into the restaurant in the near future.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council said it was called yesterday by Ms Burns about the McDonalds incident and had been due to visit the restaurant.