RUMOURS that the iconic golden arches of fast-food giant McDonald’s will soon be lighting up the sky of Saffron Walden have been dismissed by the firm.

Social networking sites and the County High School were buzzing with speculation that the company had purchased the Gulf petrol station on Thaxted Road as a site for a new restaurant.

However, McDonald’s quashed the suggestion, branding it “just rumour”. A spokesman for the firm said McDonald’s was not currently looking at any sites in Saffron Walden to build a new establishment.