INTERNATIONAL fast food giant McDonald's today revealed it will close a restaurant just nine months after building a £1 million drive-thru less than a mile away.

The American burger chain admitted Accrington could not sustain two outlets in such close proximity and said: "The town is not big enough for two restaurants."

The company said all 25 staff at the outlet in Blackburn Road will transfer to the new 85-seater drive-thru restaurant in Hyndburn Road when the town centre burger bar closes in the New Year.

It said an additional six positions are also to be advertised, bringing the staff total to 70.

A spokesman for McDonald's said: "Blackburn Road will be closing early next year.

"Our plans for Accrington have always included improving the facilities we provide there for our customers. Hence our investing over £1 million in building the drive-thru which is close to the existing restaurant.

"It takes time to assess these sort of things and we have made the decision that the drive-thru is sufficient for the business we have in Accrington. That is a new, modern and contemporary building with the added benefit of having the drive-thru.

"Our intention was always to provide customers with a better service and we feel we can still do this with just one facility.

"We knew this may happen but wanted to see if there was enough custom for both.

"All of the staff will be deployed to the new restaurant so for them it is really just a relocation."

Soon after the drive-thru opened, the Blackburn Road restaurant, which opened in 1986, began to limit its opening hours and closed at 7pm.

The future of the building has not been confirmed.

But it lies at the heart of the town centre and is a prime spot close to the multi-million regeneration work currently being completed.

McDonald's has also recently opened a new branch in Darwen and is set to open a restaurant in Clitheroe which have jointly created around 100 jobs.