Fried chicken fans in the UK have been left confused after several KFC restaurants were forced to close due to running out of chicken.

Restaurants are reported to be closed in Manchester, Plymouth, Newcastle, Berkshire, Suffolk and Surrey.

The Manchester Evening News reports restaurants are placing the blame on delivery problems, with one location putting up a sign that said "hiccups" in the delivery process had forced the closure.

"Sorry we're closed. We deliver our chicken fresh into our restaurants but we've had a few hiccups with the delivery today," the sign read.

"We wouldn't want to open without offering our full menu, but we'll be back at the fryers as soon as we can.

"Apologies for the inconvenience."

Customers weren't pleased, with many asking how a restaurant famous for its chicken could fail to have any in stock.

"How does that even happen?! Isn't that all they sell," one person wrote on Twitter.