I'm prescribing it! McDonald's restaurant turned into Boots first ever drive thru pharmacy

The branch has been taken over by Boots and turned into Britain's first drive-through pharmacy, targeting busy mothers and commuters who need to pick up a prescription without delay.

Already a familiar sight in the US, such stores could soon be spreading across retail parks here if the pilot in Colchester, Essex, proves a success.

Pill power: The drive thru pharmacy with is first customer in a racing car

The branch, which opened yesterday, uses the familiar American-style burger restaurant format, with the customer driving up to one window, placing their order, then moving forward to a collection point.

Boots believes that it will be a hit with motorists going to or from work who need to pick up some medication or parents who want to avoid having to take their children out of the car.

The drive-through section is attached to a conventional walk-in Boots store selling the usual range of toiletries, cosmetics and snacks.

McDonald's has moved into new premises next-door.

Matt Bearman, manager of the new store, said prescriptions should be ready to collect in around two minutes of being ordered.

'It works just like a restaurant drive-through,' he said. 'You take your prescription up to the first hatch, put it in, the information is checked, and then the items are dispensed at the second window, without leaving the car.

'It's lightning fast - instead of fast food it's fast medicine'

Customers welcomed the new service today.

Carla Draper, 28, visiting with her four-week-old daughter, said: 'It can be quite a hassle getting Rose out of the car and into the pram, so if you are in a rush this would be very quick and easy.'

And Laura Peters, 39, a secretary from Chelmsford, said: 'It’s a wonderful idea. Sometimes it can be a pain finding a parking space near a chemist. I don't know why someone didn't think of it sooner.'

Mr Bearman added: 'It doesn't smell of chip fat, it was all stripped out and then rebuilt. On the inside it looks like a normal Boots store.

'People can get their fast food and then pop round to get their vitamins from us without leaving the car.

'It's ideal for people with children or who are disabled. You don't have to worry about finding a parking space, getting the children out of the car seat and into a buggy or a person into a wheelchair.

'It's all done without stepping out of the car'

The drive-through service provides prescription-only items throughout the store's opening hours, 8am-8pm Monday to Saturday. Between 8pm and midnight it also sells over-the-counter medicines.

There are around 3,000 drive-through pharmacies in the U.S., but it remains to be seen whether it will take off here however.

'We are testing it here to see how it will work out and it could be rolled out across the country,' Mr Bearman said.