It could take more than a year after a fire to re-open a fast food restaurant.

KFC in High Road, Loughton, shut in October last year due to a fire in the extraction system and bosses admit it could take until the end of the year to start thinking about a re-opening.

The restaurant is currently closed with a sign on the door saying: “Due to fire KFC is closed. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

The appears to be rubbish strewn throughout the restaurant with unopened letters by the door.

Frustrated customers have taken to Twitter to ask the fast food giant when it will be returning to the town.

David Costello posted: “KFC are you going to reopen the restaurant in Loughton? It has been closed due to a fire for months.”

Stephi Thorn was frustrated with the long drive, posting: “When is KFC Loughton reopening? Driving to Chingford is long.”

With the Loughton restaurant closed, there are no open branches in the Epping Forest district.

A KFC spokesman said: “We are working hard to re-open our Loughton restaurant and hope to have good news for our fans by the end of the year.

“Until then, customers can get their favourite original recipe chicken from our nearby restaurants, which are less than a 20-minute drive away.”