Macclesfield has received a further blow to its economy as another retail outlet is about to close its doors for the final time.
McDonald's, on Mill Street, in the town centre, is shutting down in October.
The Express revealed last week that 230 people were set to lose their jobs after the closure of Capital One's homeowner loans business, just months after the biggest employer in Macclesfield - AstraZeneca - announced it was shedding 700 jobs.
Another national chain, Music Zone, based next door to McDonald's, has gone into administration with the loss of five jobs.
A spokeswoman for McDonald's said: "Since the Mill Street restaurant opened over 20 years ago, customer habits have evolved and as a business we have to react and adjust to meet ever changing customer demands.
"As a result of this change in demand, the Mill Street restaurant will close in October.
"The drive-thru restaurant on the Silk retail park will be extended throughout August and September and will almost double in size to meet current customer demand at that location.
"All staff from the Mill Street restaurant will be relocated to the new larger retail park location.
"We would like to thank our customers for their valued custom over the years and we look forward to welcoming them to the new larger restaurant on the Silk retail park."
She added that no other branches in the region would be closing and that all 33 staff currently based at Mill Street had taken up the option to move to the retail park.
With around 13 coffee shops, seven sandwich bars and nearly 50 takeaways in the town, there is stiff competition to survive.
Sir Nicholas Winterton MP told the Express he was troubled about the number of empty and boarded up businesses in the town, but was relieved that there would be no job losses from the restaurant.
He said: "McDonald's is popular with a large number of people and I am pleased that it is remaining in Macclesfield and obviously delighted that there are no job losses. With the problems with AstraZeneca and Capital One we don't want any more losses.
"McDonald's has done quite a lot in Macclesfield, which is something to be commended, especially for a global retail outlet."
He added: "Clearly I have been concerned about the number of retail outlets that are empty and boarded up and I can only hope that the companies who own or buy the properties do not make the leases too expensive.
"I understand the pressure businesses are under, but we want to ensure the future of small boutiques and shops in the town.
"We have the impending town centre development and we want to complement Mill Street, not eradicate it."
