A lack of KFC chicken continues to disrupt the nation as people have taken to calling police over the issue.

Hundreds of KFC outlets remain shut after a new delivery contract with DHL sparked chicken shortages across the country.

Around 30 per cent of KFCs across the country are closed, while many of those that are open are offering limited menus or have cut their hours.

KFC has said it expects disruption to some restaurants to continue for the rest of the week.

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"

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.

"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."

The following KFCs in south east London are currently open:

Greenwich, 186 - 188 Trafalgar Road, Greenwich, London, London, SE10 9TZ

Woolwich, 19 Thomas Street, Woolwich, London, London, SE18 6HU

Bromley, Bromley Rst, 73/75 High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1JY

Dartford, Crayford - Roman Way, Unit 3, Roman Way, Crayford, Dartford, Kent, DA1 4BH

Dartford, Dartford - Priory Shopping Centre, Dartford Priory Shopping Centre, Dartford, Kent, DA1 2HS

Lewisham, 217 High Street, Lewisham, London, London, SE13 6LY