AN investigation has been launched after a same-sex couple claimed they were forced to leave a Bolton town centre fast food takeaway after kissing.

The pair, Kristeen Ferenczi, 16, and her girlfriend, 17, who are both students at Bolton Sixth Form College, were in McDonald's last Thursday, at 12.30pm.

Kristeen, from Farnworth said: "My girlfriend and I were enjoying meals. After finishing our meals we were talking and laughing, before she leaned over and gave me a kiss on my cheek.

"Within seconds of her doing so, a member of staff approached us and asked us to 'stop kissing' as it was 'inappropriate'.

"In disbelief, I asked the staff member to repeat what she had just said, as I thought I must have misheard her.

"She said 'we've had complaints about the pair of you kissing', adding, 'it's inappropriate'.

Kristeen claims the member of staff said she had been instructed to watch them to see if they kissed a second time.

She further alleges, the staff member then said: "I've had to keep an eye on you after the complaint and I've been watching for it to happen again.

"I'm going to have to ask for you to leave."

When Kristeen asked the staff member if she was 'homophobic' she ignored the question and walked away.

Kristeen added: "My girlfriend and I got our bags and left the restaurant in a complete state of shock. We were silent for a few seconds before turning to each other and bursting into tears."

A spokesman for McDonald's said: “We are extremely sorry for Ms Ferenczi and her partners’ experience and have taken this complaint very seriously.

"An internal investigation is currently under way and we would like to make it clear that discrimination of this nature is wholly unacceptable and not, in any way, tolerated by McDonald’s.”