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KFC has FINALLY revealed why it closed so many of its restaurants across the UK.

Chicken lovers were left furious after a delivery blunder saw the fast food giant close a number of its 900 stores when it ran out of chicken and chips.

Branches in Devon, Bristol, Berkshire, Surrey, Suffolk, Newcastle and Cheshire were all affected.

Today KFC finally revealed what the issue was.

The chicken giant blamed "teething problems" with a new delivery partner as people dramatically declared it was 'the end of the world.'

(Image: BPM Media)

KFC's STATEMENT IN FULL

The company - which has been going since 1930 - also declared that "getting fresh chicken out to 900 restaurants across the country is pretty complex."

They added: "We won't compromise on quality, so no deliveries has meant some of our restaurants are closed, others are operating a limited menu or shortened hours."

DHL - which took over deliveries for KFC recently - told Mirror Online: “Due to operational issues a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed.

"We are working with our partners to rectify the situation as a priority and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

People up and down the country lost it as the stores closed on Thursday night, with one hungry Bristol man rather dramatically declared it was the ‘end of the world.'

(Image: KFC)

Summer Thomas wrote on Twitter: “Ohhhh KFC what the cluck do you think your playing at closing near enough every branch in Bristol because you ran out of chicken! It’s basically the end of the world.”

Up in Manchester people were queuing at a city 'Drive Thru', which had no closure notice on the outside and people say they drove for miles to other stores - only to find they are closed too.

In Plymouth the blunder meant staff had to close up and hungry customers were made to walk away devastated, reports the Plymouth Herald .

At Nottingham’s Milton Street branch staff placed a sign on the door apologising for the store being closed.

(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)

But nothing could clam furious fast food lovers as a tirade of furious comments were posted across Twitter.

Natalie Page tweeted: "KFC would be great if you announced on the sign that all branches were closed to save people from driving to a different.

And @noodle3087 said: "KFC any reason the Bradford greengates store is closed? Just had to drive for another 20 mins to not break a promise to a child. Sign on window just said closed, no reason."

A customer at Plymouth's Wolseley Road restaurant also said they were told it would be hopefully open again on Saturday morning

Whilst a female colleague in St Budeaux said they were shut and the issue was affecting KFCs all over Plymouth.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: REUTERS)

An employee said: “Unfortunately we are still closed this morning due to delivery issues.

“We’re not sure at the moment when we will be back open.

“We have no products so are unable to open the stores at the moment. Sorry.”

A member of staff at Crownhill, Plymouth confirmed the store was currently closed because of a fries shortage.

In a previous statement a KFC spokesperson said: “We deliver fresh chicken to our restaurants, but we’re having a few hiccups with our delivery system at the moment.

"We’re really sorry for any inconvenience, and we’re working to have all our restaurants back up and running as soon as we can!”

Mirror Online has contacted KFC for further comment.