FAST food giant McDonald's has gone cold on controversial plans for a new restaurant beside the River Medway in Maidstone.

But two fast food outlets rather than one could be on the menu.

McDonald's bosses have pulled out of the seven-month long negotiations with the company which had been given planning permission for a restaurant on the vacant St Peter Street site in February.

In a bid to attract two operators to run the development jointly, Electricity Supply Nominees has now lodged a new planning application to increase the size of the building by 20 percent and split it vertically.

The company's representative, Tim Waters, said: "Because we have had quite a few expressions of interest it is quite possible that we might end up having two tenants.

"It's likely to be fast food and that kind of activity. There could be a pizza restaurant but it could equally be two fast food tenants."

Talks to operate two outlets in the building on derelict land at St Peter's Wharf are underway with at least one large fast food operator. McDonald's are not considering any alternative sites in the town.