Anger has greeted plans to keep a fast food restaurant’s drive-through open 24 hours a day.

People will now be able to order meals from their cars at McDonald's, in Stonegrove, Edgware, throughout the night.

Under the new rules approved by Barnet Borough Council yesterday, diners will also be able to eat inside the restaurant until 12am on Sunday to Thursday, and 1am on Friday to Saturday.

The drive-through currently stays open until 3am and reopens at 5am, and the main restaurant stays open until 11pm all week.

However, those living in London House, directly opposite the eatery, have warned it will create a "public nuisance".

They claim they are currently plagued by the sound of engines revving, doors slamming and horns sounding late into the night and that the period between 3am and 5am is their only respite.

There are also concerns 24-hour opening will increase the amount of rubbish in the area and that the new opening hours will bring anti-social behaviour from yobs hanging around in the area.

Other concerns include cooking smells and brightl ights from the restaurant shining into the front of the London Road block.

In a letter to the council's sub-licensing committee, they say the restaurant has made their lives "intolerable".

However, McDonald's has assured it will display signs to warn customers about noise and that rubbish patrols will scour the area to clean up waste.

People will also be encouraged to eat their meals inside the restaurant rather than on benches provided outside.

McDonald's also claims there are no issues with anti-social behaviour in the area and there is no evidence to prove the new the new opening hours would create it.