McDonald's, the fast food chain, is creating 30 jobs across the county as part of a £1.5million restaurant makeover.

Five restaurants are being given a facelift, starting in the summer and going on until the end of the year. The 30 jobs are part of a nationwide recruitment drive for 5,000 extra staff, boosting the total UK workforce to 85,000.

McDonald's enjoyed a successful 2009 which saw the Big Mac chain gain market share and post a second year of double digit growth.

The latest investment builds on what McDonald's calls "substantial" sums injected into the restaurants by individual restaurant owners and operators.

The outlets in Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, and St Georges Street, Canterbury, will be the first to have a £300,000 design makeover. Stour Retail Park, also in Canterbury, Biggin Street, Dover and Tunbridge Wells Business Park will follow.

McDonald's says the redesigned restaurants will be bright and modern inside and out, with WiFi, new seating layouts and longer opening hours. Kitchens will also be revamped, and staff given better rest facilities with "comfortable" seating, television and a
computer.

The new look comes as McDonald’s extends its menu to include a range of salads, porridge, fruit bags and Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee made with organic British milk.

McDonald's also says it will encourage staff to study for GCSE equivalent qualifications in Maths or English online as part of a skills development programme.

Richard Forte, chief operations officer, said: "We're delighted to continue our extensive reimaging programme in Kent and bring an extra boost to the local economy. Changes at our restaurants are well received by our customers so we will continue to bring a more modern and convenient eating-out experience to them.

"At McDonald's we believe in investing in people and are pleased to provide job opportunities in Kent, particularly when youth unemployment is at an all-time high."

He added 80 per cent of its restaurant managers started off as hourly-paid staff. "We're proud to help young people get a decent foot on the career ladder."