Aerial images show the progress of a town's fourth McDonald's as bosses reveal when the restaurant is set to open.

Groundworks on the controversial new outlet in Chart Road, Ashford, are now underway.

It comes five months after KentOnline reported contractors being seen cutting back vegetation and an excavator and materials being delivered to the plot.

The fast-food branch, next to the 'tank roundabout' and former Fiat dealership, will join the chain’s existing ones in Eureka Park, the high street and Orbital Park - the latter said to be the company’s busiest drive-thru in Europe.

A spokesperson for McDonald's said: “We are excited about the opportunity to open a new restaurant in Ashford, bringing about 100 jobs and significant investment to the local area.

"We are planning for a summer 2025 opening date.”

The 24-hour drive-thru will also feature 136 seats inside and be accessed via Bridge Road.

Located just one mile from the Eureka Park branch, it will also have an outdoor play area on the patio.

As well as two disabled spots, there will be 53 parking spaces and 14 cycle bays.

Plans for the branch were given the green light in 2022 – despite concerns over increased traffic on one of the town’s busiest roundabouts.

Some residents have labelled the decision to build on the plot as "total madness" due to existing congestion already.

When asked whether the restaurant would add to the issue, the chain told KentOnline: "At McDonald’s, we strive to be a good neighbour in the communities in which we operate.

"We look forward to working together with the local community and stakeholders to address any concerns they may have.”

McDonald's was also approached as to the estimated costs of the restaurant.

Proposals for the fast-food unit were originally submitted in September 2020 - two years before being given the green light.

Yet they were withdrawn four months later while further discussions were held with Kent County Council (KCC) about the impact on the surrounding traffic.

They were then resubmitted with two amendments.

These included making the roundabout entrance from Templer Way wider and moving a pedestrian crossing on Chart Road further down to improve traffic flow.

The stretch of the A28 Chart Road between the ‘tank’ and Matalan roundabouts is flagged to become a dual carriageway.

But the future of the long-awaited project is set to be decided later this year as a housing developer appealed to amend its funding for infrastructure works.

Hodson Developments Ltd, the lead company behind the 5,750-home Chilmington Green development, is required to contribute to the road’s vital upgrades when 400 homes are occupied.

But last year Hodson submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate that “seeks to vary or delete” a significant number of its current requirements in its Section 106 agreement with Ashford Borough Council (ABC).

Further details of what the appeal includes have not yet been published.

When the project to relieve the heavily congested route was first announced, it was set to cost £26.2 million but “inflationary pressures” mean this has now risen to £30m.