Fast food lovers from Atherstone have been served up a glimmer of hope for a 'click and collect' version of McDonald's at today's opening of a new drive-thru restaurant less than 10 minutes from the town.

Hundreds of diners tucked straight into their favourite Double Quarter Pounder mains and a Flake McFlurry for afters at the launch of the 160-seat eatery just off the A5 at Dodwells Island where the Warwickshire and Leicestershire boundaries cross over.

There were plenty of Happy Meal faces at the 11am branch opening – all met at the door by beaming smiles from franchisee Lorraine Lee who admitted the restaurant had been "seven years in the making".

Judging by social media interest, Atherstone and district's fans of McDonald's believe in 2020 it's time the town had one.

And Nub News put the question to a 'big cheese' of the famous brand – director of franchising Steve Shaw – at the opening, asking how much longer the town had to be deprived of the highly popular global success story.

His reply: "Well, not just at the moment."

But he added before you could say 'Apple and Grape Fruit Bag-for-two please': "We are always looking at acquisitions and good sites."

And new franchisee Mrs Lee piped up: "I'd be delighted to see people from Atherstone visiting this restaurant.

"After all, it's less than six miles from Atherstone to here and probably would be much easier for motorists coming down the A5 than trying to get to our restaurant in Nuneaton town centre."

The 54-year-old has a long McDonald's history behind her – 20 years in fact – and is now being joined by husband Harvey working on site maintenance at Dodwells Island and daughter Georgia managing her other franchise at Wheatfield Way, Hinckley.

So what did the punters think on Big Mac Day One with the added bonus of self-service points on both floors which provide a 'click and collect' feature via an app with food brought to the table?

Husband-and-wife Justin and Samantha Palmer normally bring the family but decided to make it a "lunch date" for just the two of them.

Justin enthused: "It's like being in a restaurant.

"Bringing the meals to your table via the app is certainly getting away from an image of long queues at the counter and having to wait to be self-served."

Final word from Atherstone forum commentator Alan Beale who recently posted: "Atherstone doesn't need a McDonalds, KFC, Burger King or Subway.

"It's all a load of overpriced ****."

Footnote: For lovers of McDonald's, the closest to Atherstone in distance are Queens Road Nuneaton and in the town's Asda store off Newtown Road. There are two in Tamworth at Ventura Park and Wilnecote.