Almost 400 residents attended yesterday's public consultation in Oakham to find out more about McDonald's plans to build a fast food restaurant in the town.

The event provided an opportunity to ask questions about the restaurant, which the company says would create at least 65 full or part time jobs, and get an idea of how it would look.

A spokesman said: "Yesterday's public consultation proved to be highly constructive and we'd like to thank the Oakham community for taking the time to attend.

"We will be reviewing all the feedback we received before making a decision on the appropriate next steps."

The company says that while it is 'excited' at the prospect of opening in Oakham, it fully understands the historic nature of the town centre which has no suitable sites for its proposal.

As such, it says it believes locating the restaurant on the outskirts of town, near the A606, is the 'most beneficial and appropriate location'.

A letter to residents notifying them that the exhibition was to be held stated that McDonald's has been considering opening a restaurant in Oakham 'for the last few years' but wanted residents' feedback 'before any final decisions are made'.

Rutland is currently the only county in the country not to have a McDonald's fast food restaurant.

McDonald's will have to overcome a number of statutory hurdles before being given the go-ahead to build a new restaurant in Oakham.

A Rutland County Council spokesman told Oakham Nub News before the consultation event: "We are yet to receive any formal planning application for a new McDonald's restaurant at the Hawksmead Business Estate.

"If a planning application is received it will need to be assessed against national planning guidance and the council's own adopted planning policies.

"This would also require a statutory planning consultation asking members of the public and other interested groups to give their views on any proposals."