Fast food giant McDonald's is getting tough with drug users who use its toilets as a meeting place.

Tight security measures are being introduced in a bid to stamp out the stream of addicts and users who rendezvous beneath the company's famous golden arches.

Drug users have been targeting the toilets in McDonald's in London Road, Brighton, as a meeting place.

The restaurant has responded by locking its toilets and introducing a key-operated system.

It is installing a camera and buzzer outside the first-floor toilets. Customers have to ring the bell and be let in by a member of staff.

The food chain is also working with Sussex Police as part of a 'Safer Streets' initiative.

Operation Frosty puts plain-clothes detectives, uniformed officers and drug detection dogs in the city's trouble spots.

Angie McGowan, manageress of the London Road restaurant, said drug users had made a beeline for the toilets because they provided a warm, clean space for their habit.

McDonald's Head Office in London said it was aware of the problem and was doing all it could to solve it.

A spokeswoman said: "We have been working with the police concerning the drug issues that exist in the city, along with other retailers and organisations and will continue to co-operate fully with them but we are determined to keep drugs out of McDonald's.

"We aim to provide clean, safe toilet facilities for all our customers and an extensive refurbishment programme is under way to create comfortable and secure facilities that can be easily monitored."

In recent years, London Road had been troubled with beggars, drunks and drug addicts.

Police launched the Safer Streets initiative and Operation Frosty, a high-profile campaign to crack down on addicts, shoplifters and drunks from trouble spots including London Road and St James's Street.

Yesterday, they put up posters in London Road, alerting people to their work.

Sergeant Steve French said: "We are aware of the problems McDonald's has had and are working with it and other businesses to tackle it."

One mother of a seven-year-old son who has used the toilets in the London Road restaurant said: "I'm glad McDonald's is doing something about it.

"It's a nuisance to have to go and get a key or use an intercom but I'd rather that than my son picking up a used needle."

Another customer, Kathy Jones of Ditchling Road, Brighton, said: "There are always dodgy types hanging round London Road and McDonald's is an easy target.

"They know they can disappear in the crowds and use the toilet. They are not just kids either, some of them are grown men and they can be quite menacing."

McDonald's in Western Road, Brighton is introducing the same measures but the Brighton Marina outlet has not suffered problems and does not lock its toilets.

Frazer McEwen, of the Brighton-based drug and alcohol service Addaction, said: "I imagine there are many other places being used in much the same way.

"People have always used public toilets for drugs and alcohol. McDonald's seem to be minimising the risk, which seems the sensible thing to do."