McDonald’s plans to open its main Preston city centre branch around the clock, it has emerged.

The fast food chain has asked Preston City Council to confirm that there are no existing planning conditions in place that would prevent the outlet on Friargate from operating around-the-clock.

At the moment, the eatery is open between 5am and 11pm seven days a week.

The city centre's other McDonald’s branch - which is located in the Fishergate Shopping Centre - trades from 7.45am until 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sundays.

The Friargate outlet was granted planning permission more than 40 years ago, back in March 1985.

A letter submitted to city council planners by real estate specilaists Savills - acting on behalf of McDonald's - refers to a “proposed” move to an “unrestricted trading operation" at the site.

It adds: “We understand that the 1985 permission forms the basis for the lawful use of the premises as a restaurant. The decision notice does not include any conditions restricting the restaurant's opening hours.

“On that basis, it is understood that there are currently no restrictions on the McDonald's restaurant's opening hours at 174, Friargate, Preston.

“For there to be a valid planning restriction on operating hours, it must be imposed by condition. [It is understood] there are no conditions of approval on any relevant permission which control the use or operation of the floorspace at the application site, and none of the later permissions relating to the McDonald's restaurant contain any restrictions on the opening hours.”

The firm has not indicated when it intends to introduce 24-hour opening at the Friargate restaurant - which is operated by a local franchisee - if the change is confirmed as being permissible.

A McDonald’s spokesperson told the Lancashire Post: “We are proposing to extend the operating hours of our Friargate restaurant to better meet customer demand and provide greater convenience for those visiting, working and travelling through Preston city centre at all times of the day and night.

"The proposal would also support additional employment opportunities and provide greater flexibility for our restaurant teams.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Salim Desai, one of the City Centre ward members on Preston City Council, said he would previously have been a little more circumspect about the prospect of a 24-hour McDonald's on Friargate, but now was now fairly relaxed - having recently seen how few people populate the shopping streets late at night.

"I went for a late evening walk in the park...and noted the [number] of people comfortably walking even as the sun was setting. Then I set about walking through Winkley Square and the city centre.

"I noticed how many 24-hour betting shops were located in and around Orchard Street and how deserted everything felt. It was a weekday [and] around 11pm by then.

"I think [the 24-hour McDonald's] will also have community benefits and act as a sanctuary, if ever needed. I don't think [it] is a nutritional meal provision, but serves its purpose as a stop gap," Cllr Desai added.