FAST food firm McDonald’s is to create 45 new jobs in York this year.

The announcement is part of a nationwide commitment to create 2,500 new positions across the UK by the end of the year, including 150 in Yorkshire.

In 2012, the company exceeded its pledge to create 2,500 by an additional 1,000, bringing its current total UK workforce to 91,000.

Last year, 70 per cent of the new positions were given to those under 21 years old, it said.

New employees in York will also have the chance to gain nationally-recognised qualifications.

Local McDonald’s operations manager James Thompson said: “In 2012 we added some fantastic crew from the local community to our team, many of whom were starting out in their first job.”