BURGER giant McDonald's will not be coming to Locks Heath.

The U-turn by the fast food chain has been welcomed by residents who feared the new drive-through outlet would lead to litter problems, loutish behaviour and traffic congestion.

McDonald's chiefs took the decision not to build the restaurant in the car park next to the Locks Heath Shopping Centre during crunch talks over the last few days.

It comes more than two years after Fareham Council awarded planning permission for the scheme despite more than 500 objections from people living nearby.

McDonald's spokesman Alison Perves said the company had decided to concentrate on refurbishing its existing 1,300 UK restaurants rather than building new ones.

She denied the chain was losing money or declining in popularity.

"Despite the fact we have planning permission for the site we have decided not to pursue the scheme," she said.

"All of our investment will this year - our 30th anniversary - be concentrated on refurbishing the restaurants we already have."

Mrs Perves confirmed the fast food giant has no intention of building a restaurant in Locks Heath at a later date.

She said the future of the leasehold site was now in the hands of the shopping centre landlord.

Chairman of the Locks Heath Neighbourhood Watch group William Bell, 74, one of the leading campaigners against the takeaway, said he was delighted McDonald's had finally ditched its plans.

"This is an answer not only to my prayers, but to 90 per cent of the people living in Locks Heath. It would have been disastrous for the area."

Another resident Stephen Hodges, who is trying to re-start Locks Heath Residents' Association said he was delighted. "I know local people have been very concerned about the possible litter and parking problems."

The fast food chain won planning permission to build its restaurant in Locks Heath in September 2001.

Hundreds of residents attended a heated public meeting about the plans with many signing petitions and writing letters of objection. Work had been due to start on the drive-through off Centre Way last spring but had to be postponed until November for legal agreements to be finalised.

However, residents watched the second start date come and go with no work being carried out.