Finger lickin' chain to open its doors in St Neots.

Around 25 jobs are expected to be created when the American fast food chain opens an outlet at the site of the former The Bell pub in Eaton Socon.

The bulldozers are expected to move in on the derelict building, which is situated on the Great North Road, in a matter of weeks to make way for the scheme after Huntingdonshire District Council gave it the green light.

It is expected the development will comprise of a take-away, parking, a restaurant and a drive-through facility and will be open from 11am to 11pm, seven days a week. Huntingdonshire district councillor for the area, Cllr Gordon Thorpe, said he had not received any objections from residents about the development.

He said: "Anything that brings employment to the area can't be a bad thing."The KFC itself will be on the edge of town, although it may generate a bit more traffic in the area."It will also mean that people working in the industrial area nearby will also have access to hot food. "I have not received any complaints or representations from local residents objecting to the scheme."

Fellow ward councillor Mandy Thomas said she too was supportive of the venture. "I am all for it if it will bring more jobs in."Hopefully the opening of KFC will also encourage other units to open in the area.

"The only concern is that it could create more litter, but the development is way out from residents and hopefully that shouldn't be too much of a problem."

A KFC spokesman said: "As one of the most popular quick service restaurants in the UK, we constantly look for suitable locations to expand our portfolio.

"Due to popular demand in the area, we can confirm we are pursuing plans to develop a restaurant on Great North Road, St Neots. Building work is scheduled to begin in the autumn, with the restaurant opening in early summer 2009.

"We expect to create approximately 25 jobs within the local community."

>> The KFC concept was first devised by Colonel Harland D Sanders in the 1930s when he served travellers visiting his service station in Corbin, Kentucky. His secret recipe is still locked away.