Video: Youths abuse McDonald's staff in Wigan in bizarre mini-riot

Employees at a McDonald's restaurant in Wigan were subjected to an extraordinary barrage of abuse earlier this week by up to 100 youths.

The incident at the fast food giant's Standishgate branch saw the youths singing obscene songs, hurling rubbish at staff and crossing the barrier into the staff-only area behind the tills. It was recorded on a mobile phone and uploaded on video sharing website Youtube, where it has since gone viral.

The disturbance was brought to an end after staff pressed an alarm and alerted police.

McDonald's said: "We were appalled by the deplorable behaviour displayed in our Standishgate restaurant.

"The safety and security of our employees is of paramount importance, and it is completely unacceptable for them to be the targets of any level of intimidation or abuse.

"On the evening in question, employees activated the staff alarm system which is installed to guard their safety and limit the need for confrontation.

"The alarm system alerts the central CCTV control room to any disturbance and gives them full control to monitor the situation.

"Customers in the restaurant at the time the alarm was activated will have been informed over the speakers that they were being recorded and that the police had been called.

"Fortunately, nobody was injured. But we are offering our full support to those staff members affected by the shock of the incident. We are also cooperating fully with the police."