A BIG Mac bid to open new restaurants in Burnley, Colne and Whitebirk, Blackburn, could bring 150 new jobs and £2 million investment in the area this year.

The giant McDonald's UK empire want a bigger slice of the North West's food service outlets and have targeted East Lancashire as a priority area for expansion of their Drive-Thru chain.

Burger bosses are desperate to find new quarter acre sites in the district.

And North West chief, Keith Mason, says the company may be happy to pay out introductory cash fees to anyone who can put them in touch with suitable centres.

He said: "It is part of a major expansion programme which underlines our confidence in the area.

"We are actively seeking sites in Burnley, Colne and at Whitebirk, but we have nothing definite in view yet."

Mr Mason, McDonald's senior surveyor, based at Manchester, added: "Each new Drive-Thru will employ fifty staff, half of them full time and the total investment at each site will be in the order of £700,000." Mr Mason stressed the developments aimed for town outskirts would not mean the closure of any in-town restaurants. "There have been rumours that we are outlying out in favour of Drive Thrus but this is just not true.

"We are pressing ahead with exciting development and expansion."

McDonald's considered the site of the former Hop pub at Trafalgar Street, Burnley and found it not suitable.

In 1994 Pendle council blocked the company's plans to buy municipal land at Vivary for a Drive Thru.

But the Big Mac group, which opened its first East Lancashire Drive Thru at Ewood, Blackburn a year ago, is confident new local sites will soon be found.

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