THE opening date of a fast food restaurant currently under construction has been delayed.

McDonald's bosses have revealed that its restaurant at Oubas Hill in Ulverston will no longer be open in time for Christmas, as previously stated.

Construction work finally begun on building the fast food giant at the end of July after more than two years of delays.

The site, containing a restaurant and drive-thru, is expected to create at least 65 full and part-time jobs for local people

McDonald’s chiefs had previously revealed the site would be set to open before mid-2020 after they were given the green light by South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee in June 2019.

The Mail revealed in September that customers could be enjoying a Big Mac before Christmas, with plans to open the long-anticipated restaurant in early December.

However, bosses behind the fast food chain have now said they are aiming to open the Ulverston restaurant in Spring 2022.

The opening delay comes weeks after maintenance work on the new McDonald's was put to a halt after United Utilities contractors and staff faced an 'unprecedented amount of physical and verbal abuse' from drivers caught up in queues on the A590.

Temporary traffic lights were put in place near Booths roundabout at Oubas Hill in Ulverston earlier this month so United Utilities could connect the new McDonald’s development to the water network.

However, the maintenance work resulted in hours of delays on the A590, with traffic queuing from Ulverston town centre to Greenodd roundabout.

One motorist said it took more than two hours to drive from the Dock Museum in Barrow to Ulverston town centre because of the maintenance work.

The roadworks are expected to resume in the New Year, however, fears have been raised that drivers may face hours worth of queues once again.

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, said drivers cannot be 'put through that farce' again - and is calling for the works to take place overnight when they resume next year.

Members of Ulverston Town Council are set to meet with Mr Fell, South Lakes MP Tim Farron and Highways England to insist works take place overnight and single carriageways are protected whilst the works take place.