KFC has plans to open dozens of new outlets across the North West — including one in Bolton.

The fast food giant has published a list of target areas to open restaurants across the country, with Bolton East among the 543 places named for a potential franchise.

Other nearby areas listed on KFC’s target locations list are Darwen, Leyland, Tyldesley, Swinton, Salford, Sale, Altrincham and Oldham.

Cllr Debbie Newall, who represents Breightmet, said: “I just think, with anything like this, if it brings jobs and opportunities to the area it is something we should consider.

“For example, they have done one in Farnworth and it was being very well received by residents as it is bringing jobs and a high standard of fast food to the area.”

Restaurant bosses are due to open the Farnworth franchise by the end of the year and a metal frame has now been erected on land between King Street and Albert Road.

That restaurant will create 40 jobs in the area ­— 20 full time and 20 part time.

A spokesman for KFC said: “We have bold ambitions to have over 1,000 stores in the UK and Ireland by 2020.

“We are looking to build over 50 new stores a year.”

KFC was introduced to the UK in 1965 with its first branch in Preston, but today it operates 850 outlets in the country.

Cllr Roy Davies who represents the Darwen East ward, said he would welcome the fast-food giant to the town if they decided to open a restaurant.

He said: “We have got a lot of restaurants in Darwen but we want to have more businesses that would make people come into Darwen and that is what would happen with this.

"We want to make people live in Darwen and shop here and, with the likes of KFC coming here, they will want to come back.

“We have got to make decisions that when shops close, do we want it to be another takeaway or would we like to have a restaurant like KFC?”