A south London branch of McDonald's has come under fire after its walls and fittings were adorned with fake graffiti.

The fast food restaurant in Brixton, which has recently undergone a complete redesign, has been fitted out with lampshades patterned with graffiti tags.

A large blue signature wall inside the restaurant has also been covered in black and white graffiti markings in part of a reworking of the interiors of many McDonald's branches.

Locals have criticised the move, branding the work "offensive" and "misguided".

Lee Dema, who runs the St Matthew’s Project, a support network for young people named after a Brixton estate, told the Independent: “This is just another misguided attempt by suits to identify with ‘edgy’ Brixton.

"They should have opened up another outlet in Brixton Village and used Laura Ashley lampshades for all the middle class poseurs around them.”

While Food critic Jay Rayner tweeted: "So the refurbed Brixton @McDonaldsUK has fake graffiti tagging. The real thing blights Brixton. Truly offensive idea."

McDonald's has been rolling out the interior design graffiti in restaurants across the country.

Branches in Leicester, Northampton, Brighton and Redhill in Surrey are among those to have had the work done.

A McDonald’s spokesman said: “The exciting and fresh designs used in Brixton are in use across the UK and in other markets and have received a great reception.

"With self-order kiosks and free-to-use tablets, the refreshed restaurant has digital innovation at its heart and provides customers with more choice in how they order and pay.

"We look forward to hearing what local residents think of their new McDonald’s.”

Brixton is known as a hotspot for anti-gentrification action. Branches of Foxton's have been targeted by vandals, and traders at the borough's railway arches claim they are being forced out in a row over the area's redevelopment.