After 10 weeks without a Big Mac there was huge demand when McDonald's reopened in Coalville today (Wednesday).

At lunchtime, cars were stretching out from the fast food outlet on the shopping park at Stephenson Way, leading to queues on to the turn off on Thornborough Road and even back to the A511 bypass at one point.

It was a scene repeated across the country and the Coalville branch had an assistant on hand to talk to people in the queue and let them know how the system would work.

McDonald's staff could clearly be seen inside wearing face masks.

McDonald's closed its doors to the public when the Government's Coronavirus lockdown was introduced in March.

But, while its is now possible to buy a burger again, the service was a 'drive-thru' only with a limited menu and a maximum spend of £25.

Not that it mattered to today's customers who were clearly prepared to wait for their meal after being unable to visit for so long.

One emerged with a meal and said: 'How good does that taste?'

With fewer employees working in kitchens and service areas, McDonald's is asking customers to be patient and supportive of the teams behind the counter as they adjust to new ways of working.

A McDonald's spokesman said: "Face coverings, gloves, Perspex screens and new safety and hygiene processes mean it looks different, it will take a little longer and as we have seen in the pilot restaurants, demand will be high.

"Please bear with us, we will continue to put our people first - their safety is our priority.

"In the last week, on occasion, we have taken the decision to close drive thru lanes where demand has impacted local communities or the safety of our people or customers.

"We will continue to work with local authorities and the police as we extend our reopening plans.

"With smaller teams, we will still be offering a limited menu over reduced hours, and we ask that you make contactless payments and limit your spend to £25.

"We are continuing to review these measures as we reopen, but for now, these restrictions remain in place to help our employees, customers and delivery partner couriers to remain safe."

A McDonalds in Derby was forced to turn some customers away on reopening day following warnings that queuing motorists caused disruption.

Long queues of motorists were waiting to be served.

The Osmaston Park Road store manager said he had received warnings from the local police that if traffic began to block the surrounding roads, they would force the store to close down for the day.