Hundreds queue for free McDonald's in Milan

(ANSA) - Milan, October 16 - Hundreds of people queued for a free meal at McDonald's in Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele on Tuesday as the local branch of the fast-food franchise prepared to close its doors indefinitely. The queue reportedly stretched the length of the glamorous shopping gallery and into Piazza del Duomo. McDonald's decided to offer a free hamburger, portion of french fries and drink to its customers between 12.30 and 15.00 to mark the closure, reportedly made necessary by a decision by Milan city council not to renew the rental contract on the premises occupied by the outlet for 20 years. Many customers left messages of thanks on a wall of the fast-food restaurant made available for the purpose.