Dad's concerns after son 'scalded by McDonald's drink'

An urgent investigation has been launched by fast food giant McDonald's after a Shropshire teenager was scalded by a cup of tea.

His worried father Tony Lewis said if he had been a small child the consequences could have been much worse.

Today the fast food chain said it would be investigating what had happened.

A spokesman for McDonald's, Marcus Crossman, said: "We are very sorry to hear of this accident and we will launch an urgent investigation to ensure our usual safety safeguards are in force."

Ben, from Lawley, had been staying with his girlfriend Victoria Bennett in Newtown on Friday when they went to the Drive Thru at the town's McDonald's for some food.

He said that as Victoria drove away, her car hit a speed bump and the tea that he was holding spilt over his legs.

"The lid was obviously not on properly and the tea was incredibly hot," Ben said.

Victoria took him to Welshpool Hospital where staff wrapped his blistered leg in transparent film to keep it sterile after applying a cream. "I was told to go back to make sure it was healing properly," Ben said.

Mr Lewis said he was very concerned about the incident.

"The top on the cup obviously wasn't fitted properly and the temperature of the water was far too hot," he said.

"Ben's scald is really nasty and if that tea had spilt on a small child the consequences could have been terrible."

Ben said the scald had been so painful he had not slept at all on Friday night.

He also said that incident had meant he and his girlfriend had had to completely rearrange their plans for the weekend.

"I was going to go to Manchester on the train to meet up with my dad and go to the Wolves match. But because I was so worried about the blister I was too nervous to go on public transport," he said.

By Sue Austin