A MCDONALD'S customer said he was made to feel like a criminal after staff called the police on him while he waited almost an hour for his meal. 

An 'overwhelming' number of police cars arrived at Blackpole Retail Park while Craig Brown waited 45 minutes for two chicken mayo sandwiches and three hot chocolates at just after 1am on Sunday (October 6).

Mr Brown was shocked when he realised the six officers were there to breathalyse him because staff believed he was drunk and had been smoking cannabis.

Tests confirmed he was sober and then - to add insult to injury - McDonald's handed him his food which was now stone cold.

Mr Brown said: "It was a long wait, we had three or four cars in front of us in the queue, it must have been 30 minutes. 

"We got to the window to pay and they got our order wrong.

"We paid, waited another 10 minutes and we were given our hot chocolates before they told us our food was not ready and asked us to park in a bay.

"I saw a police van with flashing blue lights drive in and I thought something must be going on. 

"They were looking for registration plates but I didn't think it was for me. I was shocked and in disbelief really. 

"They said staff had called because they could smell cannabis and thought we were drunk. 

"I don't do drugs and rarely drink so I was astonished."

In total, three police vans and six officers were called to the retail park.

Mr Brown described it as an overwhelming response before he was "detained", breathalysed and let go. 

Mr Brown continued: "I told the police you can see I'm not drunk and not slurring my words so I don't know why staff thought I was.

"It was intimidating - it doesn't take three vans and six officers. 

"I don't know what right McDonald's has to call the cops.

"If they saw me leaving the Blackpole pub across the street and swerving I would understand but I wasn't. 

"It's disgusting thinking about how much money I spend there and the way they have treated me. They made me feel like a criminal."

A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “At McDonald’s, we are committed to being a responsible neighbour and contributing to the safety and well-being of the communities we serve.

"It appears that in this instance, although our team’s intentions were well-meaning, their judgment was incorrect, and for that we would like to apologise to the customer.

"However, it is important to emphasise that our focus remains on the safety of our local communities.”

Mr Brown uses McDonalds in Blackpole every week and the incident has made him question going to the store ever again. 

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "Officers were called to McDonald's on the Blackpole retail park at around 1.10am on Sunday 6 October, following a reported concern over a driver who was potentially under the influence.

"Upon officers’ arrival, they located the driver who passed a breathalyser test, and no further police action was required."