Watch: New £1m McDonald's drive-thru restaurant 'takes shape' at Magherafelt

Work on the highly awaited development started in mid-April of this year at the Ardpatrick Retail Park, off Castledawson Road.

It is expected to create upwards of 50 jobs in the local community.

Most of the exterior work has been completed and the focus is now on getting the interior of the restaurant in to shape for the opening.

Mid Ulster District Council gave planning permission for the development more than a year ago, but construction work didn't get underway until the Spring of 2024.

The new complex includes car parking, landscaping and associated site works.

It is hoped the development will draw more shoppers to the busy retail park which includes Lidl and Home Bargain stores.

Originally, it was mooted that the new drive-thru restaurant would be operational by the end of the summer.

However this was later revised and there is speculation it will open in next month.

A McDonald’s spokesperson said on Monday: “I can confirm that we are aiming to open McDonald’s Magherafelt towards the end of 2024.”