ALL McDonalds restaurants in the UK are to become drive-thrus and delivery operations as the company attempts to cope with the coronavirus outbreak.

It comes after prime minister Boris Johnson warned against non-essential contact to help halt the spread of the virus - which has so far seen six confirmed cases in North Wales.

And McDonalds, from 5am on Wednesday, will lose seating areas and temporarily move to being takeaway, drive-thru and McDelivery only.

In a statement, the company's chief executive Paul Pomroy said: “Our restaurants will remain open for as long as it is safe to do so.

“In the last 24 hours it has become clear that we need to temporarily change our operations to ensure the wellbeing of our employees and customers consistent with the Government’s guidance on social distancing."

All restaurants will scrap dine-in operations, shut seating and close children’s play areas, but toilets will remain open.

He added that all orders placed through Uber Eats and Just Eat would be “contact-free, with no physical contact between customers, employees and couriers, wherever possible”.

Workers in the emergency services and health and social care sectors will receive free drinks on presentation of their work pass.