A McDonald's franchise operator has been fined more than £12,000 for employing child workers at two McDonald's restaurants in Surrey.

Local authority investigators discovered that 10 children were working underage and without permits at the High Street and drive-thru restaurants in Camberley. One child had worked a 5pm-2am shift on a school day, and one 15-year-old girl worked a 16-hour Saturday shift.

Franchise operator Ikhya Enterprises was fined £12,400 and ordered to pay £60 costs after admitting 20 offences of illegally employing schoolchildren.

A spokesperson for McDonald's said the company takes its reputation as an employer very seriously: We expect our franchisees and managers to maintain the highest standards in all restaurants. We are deeply disappointed that this was not the case in this instant. To avoid any risk of repetition the franchisee Kevin Izatt will no longer employ children under school leaving age.

McDonald's has 1.5 million employees in more than 100 countries worldwide.