MCDONALD'S has launched its long-awaited plant-based burger - but it will not be available in the fast food giant's Somerset restaurants. 

The McPlant is a vegan burger made with a plant-based patty co-developed with Beyond Meat. 

The burger contains vegan sandwich sauce, ketchup, mustard, onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and vegan cheese in a sesame seed bun. 

McDonald’s UK and Ireland chief marketing officer Michelle Graham-Clare said: "We're so pleased to be finally launching McPlant in the UK and Ireland.

"As with every McDonald’s offering, we take our time to ensure it meets the highest standards and is something that all our customers will enjoy.

"We are always looking for different ways to innovate and meet our customers’ needs, and with McPlant we have a delicious plant-based burger that will appeal to everyone."

The product will be available in some McDonald's restaurants in Coventry and Nuneaton from September 29 before the product launches across the UK on October 13. 

However, Somerset restaurants have not been included in the list of outlets that will sell the McPlant. 

A spokesperson for McDonald's said: "McPlant will be trialled in over 250 restaurants from October 13. The locations were chosen for multiple reasons, including supply chain and operational purposes. We hope to roll out McPlant to a restaurant near you in 2022." 

The nearest McDonald's stores to Somerset and much of the south west that will stock the vegan burger will be in Bristol.