FAST food fans are being asked to cut their engines whilst waiting to pick up their munch at a drive-thru in a bid to cut air pollution.

All three McDonald's drive-thru restaurants in Colchester have pledged support to Colchester Council's CAReless Pollution campaign.

Signs have been installed at each asking customers to switch off their engines when stationary.

The distinctive yellow CAReless Pollution signs, which simply urge hungry drivers to "Switch off your engine every time you wait", have been installed at the Cowdray Avenue, Tollgate and Colchester Stadium McDonald's.

Craig Newness, managing director of CGN Restaurants, which owns the McDonald's franchise in Colchester, said: "I am pleased to be supporting the CAReless campaign.

"We've installed signs to encourage our customers to switch off their engines when they are waiting for food or are parked in our restaurant car parks.

"At McDonald's we take the issue of vehicle pollution seriously; the cooking oil we use in our restaurants, including all of our restaurants in Colchester, is collected and turned into biofuel to power our delivery fleet.

"This saves almost 12,000 tonnes of Co2 emissions across the UK every year."

The CAReless Pollution was launched in response to rising air pollution levels in Colchester.

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Exhaust fumes are said to be the largest contributor to air pollution in the town and with drive-thru eateries booming during lockdown, they are thought to be a big contributor.

The new signs are part of a wider programme of activity for the CAReless Pollution campaign which will see people across the town encouraged to switch-off their engines whilst stationary.

In March new signs were installed in two of the town's most polluted areas, Brook Street and at the East Gates level crossing, to encourage drivers to switch off.

To get involved, email cleanair@colchester.gov.uk.