A McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant right next to a junction of the M60 has been given permission to open 24/7 despite objections from nearby residents.

The application was for the fast food chain’s eatery at Trafford Retail Park, off Barton Road in Davyhulme.

McDonald’s was given permission to open from 5am to 2am in May, but a month later the adjacent Starbucks outlet was given the green light to open 24/7.

The application has been "called-in" for scrutiny by Lostock and Barton Cllr Mike Cordingly while his fellow ward Cllr Shirley Procter – who sits on the committee – also backed objectors’ concerns.

She told the meeting: “When this retail park was first opened, residents were told nothing would ever open beyond 10pm. But that’s not true anymore.

“I opposed the granting of extended hours for Starbucks and I’m opposing this one also.”

Cllr Procter said there were five different food outlets close proximity to the McDonald’s drive-thru saying: “The thought of any of them opening 24/7 fills me with dread.”

She said she regularly gets complaints from residents about the litter from takeaways.

“What happens is that people drive round the roundabout on to Shetland Way and park up, eat their food and dump their rubbish in people’s gardens,” said Cllr Procter.

“The rubbish then gets blown around and ends up in the shrubs. It isn’t the fault of the fast food places, but it’s a consequence.”

But Cllr Jill Axford said: “I don’t really see how increasing the opening times is going to make a massive difference to the problems the residents have with litter.  I would approve this application.”

Chair of the committee, Barry Winstanley said: “We’ve already allowed the Starbucks application and there have been no complaints.”

And Cllr Balil Babar said littering was more of a "social issue".

Representations from residents said the increased hours would increase noise/light impacts from the site and would attract anti-social behaviour.

They also said that Trafford Council had "promised" the hours would not be increased.

It was also argued that there were two other 24-hour McDonald’s restaurants nearby and it was feared that the KFC restaurant would be prompted now to also apply for 24/7use.

However, the committee voted narrowly to accept planning officers’ recommendations and allow the application.