Video shows traffic chaos as hundreds of cars descend on Leyland McDonald's drive-thru

Police in South Ribble had warned motorists to expect significant disruption after McDonald's reopened in Churchill Way at 11am.

Four officers attended the retail park to help manage traffic as roads were choked with cars queuing to enter the drive-thru.

Some people have expressed disappointment that police resources had been used to manage the situation at the fast-food chain.

But police have now handed over responsibility to McDonald's whose staff are now guiding traffic around the retail park.

Earlier this morning, South Ribble neighbourhood policing team said it had been 'liaising' with McDonald's to 'provide a solution' to the traffic chaos.

A police spokesman said: "Please be aware that due to the reopening of McDonalds, Churchill Way Leyland, there may be problems with traffic queuing causing disruption.

"We are currently liaising with them to provide a solution."

Congestion has eased this afternoon, but traffic is still backed up to the lights at Golden Hill Lane and customers are reporting waiting times of around half an hour.

Some shoppers who had visited the retail park to shop at Lidl, B&M and Pound Stretcher said they were unable to park outside the shops due to the queues.

People have also been prevented from accessing disabled parking spaces outside the stores.

Prior to its reopening, police had asked McDonald's to ensure that queues did not disrupt the flow of traffic onto the main road.

The car park is privately owned and McDonald's had been told they would not be allowed to set up queuing lanes on the retail park itself to alleviate pressure on the road.

Similar scenes greeted motorists across Lancashire after McDonald's reopened all 17 of its drive-thrus across the county.