A NEW McDonald's in Port Glasgow could open 24 hours a day under plans by the operators.

The company behind the drive-through restaurant, which is under construction next to the Tesco petrol station, has applied for permission from Inverclyde Council for a late hours catering licence to serve food between the hours of 11pm and 5am.

If approved, it could mean the fast food outlet is open 24 hours a day.

The late hours licence application for the Port restaurant has been referred to Inverclyde's general purposes board as the proposals are outwith council policy.

Councillors will make a decision on the matter at a meeting next week.

In a report to the board, Gerard Malone, the local authority's head of legal and property services, said: "The board may wish to note that the hours applied for by the applicant are out with the council's policy. "The council normally grants a late hours catering licence with the following trading hours: Sundays to Thursdays between the hours of 11pm and 12.30am and Fridays and Saturdays between the hours of 11pm and 1.30am."

There have been no objections to the proposals from police, various local authority departments or members of the public.

The report also states that there are no opening hours restrictions attached to the planning application granted for the Port restaurant and that there are already several premises that trade 11pm and 5am seven days a week, including the neighbouring Tesco store and filling station.

Work on the new two-storey McDonald's started in August and the development is expected to be ready by 'late autumn'.

The company says at least 80 staff will be taken on and the restaurant will have 170 seats.

The general purposes board will meet at 3pm on Wednesday October 10 in the Municipal Buildings, Greenock.

It is open to the public.

The Tele contacted McDonald's for a comment but there was no response as we went to press.