Fast food chain McDonald's says work to build its new drive-thru in Carlisle is progressing - but it is still looking into how it will protect a Grade-II listed building on the site.

The company won planning permission last year to build its third outlet in the city on land off London Road.

The new restaurant will be on the former J & W Watt goods yard next to the railway line.

A stumbling block for the plans, though, is the need to carry out works on a dilapidated building on the brownfield site, previously used as part of the goods yard.

As a condition of the development being allowed to go ahead, Carlisle City Council ruled that McDonald's will have complete work on the building to make it secure.

The company, council and other bodies are still looking at how that can be achieved.

A McDonald's spokesman said, therefore, there was no firm estimate as to when work would start on the new London Road site. They have previously said they wanted their new site - which is due to create about 45 equivalent full time jobs - up and running as soon as possible.

The spokesman added: “After being granted planning permission for a new restaurant off London Road last year, we have been working with the council and other partners to make sure that we protect the existing Grade II listed building during any construction works.

"We are excited about the opportunity of opening a new restaurant in Carlisle and the jobs and investment that would bring to the local community.”

McDonald's already has two outlets in Carlisle, one in Scotch Street and a drive-thru in Kingstown.

The chain had hoped their new restaurant would be the city's first 24-hour premises but following objections from the police and local residents city councillors ruled it should have shorter opening hours.

When it goes ahead the site will be open between 6am and 11pm. Plans indicate it will be able to accommodate 160 customers.

Cumbria Police feared the 24-hour proposal would lead to a rise in crime and, in particular, boy racers. Further conditions were therefore added onto the development by the council which will ban access to the car park outside of trading hours.