A McDonald's Drive Thru will reopen tomorrow despite concerns it could lead to traffic chaos and delay hospital access.

Chatham and Aylesford's MP Tracey Crouch wrote to the fast food chain last week, asking bosses to push back the reopening of the Aylesford Drive Thru, which lies in the same road as Maidstone Hospital.

She is worried the entry and exit lanes both come out in Hermitage Lane and so will cause cars to build up and block a main route to the hospital.

Ms Crouch also highlights when the Maidstone Drive Thru in Hart Street reopens this week too, both main routes to the hospital could be jammed up with traffic.

This comes as McDonald's plans to reopen all of its UK restaurants as either Drive Thru or delivery by Thursday.

Pictures of those which have opened so far showed chaotic scenes as hungry residents came out in their hundreds to get their fast food fix. Cars tailed back for about a mile on the Medway City Estate.

In an email to the chain, Ms Crouch said: "Given the significant queues we have seen elsewhere around the county when stores have reopened I do not think that this is the right store to be reopening at this time, and although I am very sorry for those who work there and for those of us who crave a sausage an egg mcmuffin (me), I think it will cause chaos and potentially cost lives."

However, despite Ms Crouch voicing her concerns, the outlet is going ahead with reopening tomorrow morning.

McDonald's head office says it has employed two "traffic management guards" to work at the restaurant during the first week of reopening.

In an email reply to Ms Crouch, the fast food chain said: "We absolutely share the view that we must open in a way that is safe and causes minimal disruption to the local area.

"I want to reassure you that we are taking road traffic management extremely seriously. I have spoken with our security and licensing team who I know have been working closely with Kent Police on all of the restaurants that we are opening across Kent, including Aylesford.

"We recognise and are mindful that queues may develop, especially as restaurant teams adjust to new procedures to enable safe working and social distancing. With that in mind we have employed two external traffic management guards to work at Aylesford during the first week following our reopening.

"We are clear that if it is deemed necessary to close the restaurant if queues do cause serious disruption we are prepared to do so."

Ms Crouch said: "I'm still unhappy about it and still think the traffic could be horrendous but I really hope I'm wrong.

"I am not quite sure what powers or training the two "traffic management guards" have in order to ensure the free flow of traffic on the A20 or the busy B road to the Hospital A&E but I hope it is enough.

"Fingers crossed that I am horribly wrong and we have a harmonious situation of people being able to get their burgers while others safely reach the hospital without any problems."

McDonald's and Kent Police have both been contacted for comments.

Read more: All the latest news from Malling