KFC has announced plans to set up a new restaurant in Billericay.

The fast-food giant is awaiting planning permission to convert the old Coral betting shop in High Street.

If approved, it would be the first KFC to be built in the town, and add another to the growing collection of sites in south Essex.

KFC has previously said it wanted to open a drive-thru restaurant in the town, and has also listed other areas in south Essex where it wants to move to.

They were:

• Central Basildon (Food court)

• Billericay (Drive-thru)

• Stanford-le-Hope A13 (Drive-thru)

• Southend High Street (High Street restaurant)

• Tilbury/ Corringham (Drive-thru/ relocation)

The Echo asked readers for their suggestions of where they would like KFC to open a new restaurant.

Popular places on the list included Basildon town centre, Leigh Broadway and Shoebury.

Other suggestions put forward by readers were:

  • Glen Joshua Watts said: “Ashingdon definitely needs one along, with a supermarket.”
  • Fiona Johnson said: “Need the one in Southend High Street to come back, it was the best of the lot.”
  • Sam Wall Bags said: “A beach hut stand on Thorpe bay beach.”
  • Matt Howard added: “Rayleigh! Our burton shop is empty.”

KFC has previously stated it is open to ideas for any new locations, with its website adding: “Have an opportunity in mind that's not on the list? We're still interested, simply contact the team and we'll take it from there.”

Bosses says the ideal location for a new restaurant will have enough room for 25 car parking spaces, and a minimum of 0.50 acres - although this can be reduced when part of a development and sharing car parking.