Colchester McDonald's High Street store is 40 years old

The branch will mark its milestone anniversary tomorrow although its actual birthday was on Tuesday.

Lynne Holloway and Gloria Saul started working there when it opened in 1984 and have seen much change over the years

Site - McDonald's in the High Street (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking to the Gazette, Lynne said: “The best thing about working here is meeting all the different people.

"Now being older I work with a lot of younger people, so it is nice to see them enjoying the work.

“When I first started there weren’t many stores.

"We were the 141st store to open in the UK. The first one opened in Woolwich I believe. It has really grown which is nice.

“The actual 40th birthday was on June 11, which was my birthday, so I started here on my birthday.

"The celebration is taking place on Saturday as there will be more people around.”

The McDonald's store enjoyed a similar birthday bash when it celebrated 30 years in 2014.

Staff, as well as Sir Bob Russell, celebrating the site's 30th birthday previously (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking previously, Gloria said: "When we first started it was the only McDonalds in the area.

“You get all sorts of people coming in nowadays – it’s not just students and young people which you would imagine.

“Most of our staff are young though, so if you are a bit older, you keep yourself young by working with them.”

Franchisee Craig Newnes, who runs the Colchester branches (Image: Public)

McDonald’s now has more than 1,400 stores across the UK and is one of the most globally recognised brands.

Franchisee Craig Newnes, who runs the Colchester branches, said: “Being part of the Colchester community is hugely important to me and I’m thrilled to see the impact our jobs contribution in particular has made to the local area.

“I am a firm believer that you need to be a part of the community to be successful in that community, and as such I am passionate about giving young people the chance to get workplace experience.”