Horrifying photos have emerged showing a Popeyes worker making their in demand chicken sandwiches on top of a trash can.

Pictures taken in a branch of the fast food chain in Fairfax, Virginia, on Friday show the burgers and buns resting on a tray right above the garbage bin.

The restaurant owner told TMZ he has since ordered a new table to assemble the sandwiches. He claims had only been open a few days when the pictures were taken and was understaffed after a huge order for 100 of the meals came in.

In the pictures the worker, who has not been identified, wears plastic gloves as they appear to spread relish on burger buns close to the chicken on the tray.

Pictures taken in a Popeyes in Fairfax, Virginia show workers making chicken sandwiches on top of a trash can. In the pictures the worker, who has not been identified, wears plastic gloves as they appear to spread relish on burger buns close to the chicken burgers on the tray

Images show the burgers and buns resting on a tray above the garbage bin

Piles of buns sit behind the assembly lines of sandwiches waiting to be made in the image.

The tray is clearly resting on a trash can which is lined with a clear garbage bag in full view of waiting customers. The business owner claims the bag was empty.

A spokesman for Popeyes told DailyMail.com: 'We are aware of the incident, and the actions that took place clearly do not meet our standards for food service and preparation.

'We have already addressed the situation with the restaurant owner who is looking into the matter.'

The images are the latest in a series of disturbing incidents, including a fatal stabbing, to have occurred at Popeyes restaurants amid the return of its popular chicken sandwich, which has sparked chaos nationwide.

Popeyes customer Kevin Tyrell Davis, 28, was stabbed to death on November 4 during an argument in a line for the restocked chicken sandwich at a branch of the fast food chain in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

The branch owner claims his restaurant was understaffed after a huge order came in and had only been open a few days when the picture was taken. The restaurant owner told TMZ he has since ordered a new table to assemble the sandwiches

And one Popeyes worker has been charged with felony aggravated assault after allegedly throwing a woman onto the pavement outside a restaurant in Tennessee.

Deriance Ra'Shaiel Hughes, 29, is said to have attacked Debra Staggs in a dispute over her check. Rocky McElhaney Law Firm which is representing Staggs, 55, said she was trying to get a refund after being charged twice for her $13.11 meal.

Video of the attack quickly went viral with the footage showing people chasing Staggs outside the restaurant. She is then body slammed to the ground by a man who is now believed to be Hughes.

Separate footage taken inside the restaurant shows Staggs and employees arguing before the physical altercation happened.

Police appealed for the public's help in identifying the man who fatally stabbed 28-year-old Kevin Tyrell Davis following a dispute at a Popeyes restaurant in Maryland

Popeyes announced that their infamous spicy chicken sandwich was fully restocked at the beginning of November after the fast-food chain ran out of the sandwich two months ago

Further videos emerged showing cashier and a customer throwing trays at each other in San Antonio. In another unidentified outlet a male customer is seen throwing an entire bucket of tea over a worker after he reportedly couldn't get a chicken sandwich.

Popeyes resumed selling its chicken sandwich on November 3. It was first released in August, and the chain credited popular demand to its supply selling out that month.

The $3.99 meal, which comes in classic and spicy, debuted for the first time in August and was met with a frantic craze that led to long lines and fist fights at several restaurants. The sandwich sold out in a matter of just two weeks.