Dover’s town centre McDonald’s restaurant will close in six weeks.

The fast food corporation says it will shut the doors on November 4.

It has about 45 staff and they will be offered other posts.

A spokesman from the company said: “We are sad to confirm that our Biggin Street restaurant in Dover will close on November 4, which will be the final day of trading.

“The decision to close the restaurant was not taken lightly, all members of staff have been made aware and will be offered employment in other nearby restaurants.”

The closure of the Biggin Street restaurant is almost exactly on the 30th anniversary of its opening in autumn 1987.

It is also another blow to the town centre precinct which already has 12 empty business premises.

This is even before the major threat to the area’s traders of the £53 million St James’ retail and leisure development, set to open next year.

Some town centre chain branches, such as Marks and Spencer, have already said they will leave the precinct to move there.

The McDonald’s drive-in restaurant in Whitfield opened several years after the Biggin Street one and the company says that will remain open.

Dover district councillor Peter Wallace, whose ward covers the area, said: "McDonald's closing is terrible news.

"We won't have a successful St James's area without a vibrant high street.

"We urgently need a plan to bring Dover town centre back to life.

"There are independent retailers working very hard to give Dover interesting shops but they need support from the council and the government.

"The Labour councillors are looking at ways we can help the high street, by improving parking, reducing business rates and improving the feel of the high street for shoppers."