Burger chain McDonald's has dropped its plans to create a controversial 'drive-thru' restaurant at Botley.

The surprise decision comes just days after an 'open house' session with the Botley community during which residents voiced their opposition to the company's proposal to convert the former Carpenters Arms pub into one of its famous fast food outlets.

They claimed the Botley Road/Seacourt slip road junction was busy enough without a constant flow of traffic in and out of the site.

McDonald's does not need planning permission to convert the pub, but it would need approval to create a drive-thru facility.

The company recently made formal applications to the Vale of White Horse District Council's planning department, and submitted a traffic plan to Oxfordshire County Council.

But its corporate affairs representative, Robert Parker, confirmed yesterday that it had formally withdrawn its application for the drive-thru option, largely because of the hostility it had provoked from residents.

No Spin, the local pressure group in West Oxford that led a highly vocal 'McNo!' campaign over several weeks against the McDonald's plan, welcomed the company's backdown due to the strength of feeling expressed at the meeting in West Oxford Community Centre.

Welcoming the move, the group's spokesman, Sigrid Shreeve, said: "It means McDonald's came to meet us and actually listened.

"Even if they wish to reconsider making an application for a drive-thru in the future, I think they have at least established a precedent here - that they will consult with the community and take our views into account.

"All this is great news for community action in general.

"It really doesn't take much to get heard if you work together, and success if possible without confrontation."

Mr Parker said it was important to the company not to create hostility in the community.

He said work on the 100-seater 'drive-to' restaurant was going ahead on schedule and the new branch should be ready to welcome customers by the end of next month.

"The reaction of local people was a strong element in our decision, and having their support is very important to us."

MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, Dr Evan Harris, said McDonald's climbdown had shown the company had clearly realised the strength of local opinion.

He added that it was "unfortunate" that the restaurant facility would still go ahead, but added "at least the threat of traffic chaos at a busy junction has been averted."