KFC expects disruption to some restaurants to continue for the rest of the week after a new delivery contract with DHL sparked chicken shortages across the country.

More than 500 of the chain’s nearly 900 stores are still closed, while many of those that are open are offering limited menus or have cut their hours.

A KFC spokesman said: “We anticipate the number of closures will reduce today and over the coming days as our teams work flat out all hours to clear the backlog.

“Each day more deliveries are being made; however, we expect the disruption to some restaurants to continue over the remainder of the week, meaning some will be closed and others operating with a reduced menu or shortened hours.”

Tower Hamlets police tweeted that fried chicken is “not a police matter” after receiving calls from frustrated customers.

Police were not able to say exactly how many calls they had received about KFC, but warned the public against wasting police time.

A spokesperson for Met Police said: “Tweet was gentle reminder that nuisance calls are not welcome but detract from responses needed for serious calls to police.”

Bermondsey MP Neil Coyle said constituents had also contacted him, tweeting: “I’ve been contacted by disappointed #KFC customers on Borough High Street.”

Customer Ron Sanderson‏ posted: “Disaster. Took the grandkids out to dinner at KFC only to see that it’s shut down. Some chicken shortage. Took them to McDonald’s but it’s not the same. Crying in the bathroom. Can’t show weakness in front of them. #KFCCrisis”

Daniel Watts wrote: “It’s crazy to think in 50 years that we will be able to turn round to our grandchildren and say I remember the kfc chicken crisis of 18”, while another added: “Do u know what I would eat? chips done in the kfc batter. kentucky fried chips.”

KFC chicken shortage
A closed sign outside a KFC restaurant near Ashford, Kent (PA)

KFC said staff on short-term contacts working in restaurants owned by the chain would be paid the average hours worked per day over the past 12 weeks, while those on salaries would be paid as normal.

However, 80% of KFC outlets are run on a franchise basis.

“Franchisees will be seeking their own independent advice, but we’re encouraging them to adopt this policy too,” said the chain.

The closures were the result of delayed chicken deliveries by DHL, which announced in November that it had been appointed alongside QSL to manage the supply and distribution of food products and packaging for more than 850 KFC restaurants throughout the UK.

KFC chicken shortage
KFC has been forced to close a raft of outlets after a new delivery contract with DHL resulted in chicken shortages across the country (Gareth Fuller/PA)

“Due to operational issues a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed,” DHL said in a statement.

“We are working with KFC and our partners to rectify the situation as a priority and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

KFC was previously a client of Bidvest Logistics.

The chicken chain detailed the problems in an earlier statement, which said: “We’ve brought a new delivery partner on board, but they’ve had a couple of teething problems – getting fresh chicken out to 900 restaurants across the country is pretty complex!”

“We won’t compromise on quality, so no deliveries has meant some of our restaurants are closed and others are operating a limited menu, or shortened hours,” the company added.

“We know that this might have inconvenienced some of you over the last few days, and disappointed you when you wanted your fried chicken fix – we’re really sorry about that.”