Russia’s consumer watchdog has closed four branches of McDonald's as part of a food standards investigation.

The restaurants allegedly breached “numerous” sanitary laws, according to the watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor.

McDonald's said that restaurants on Pushkin Square, Manezh Square and Prospect Mira in Moscow had been temporarily closed, and said it wanted to "re-open the restaurants as soon as possible".

"We will continue taking care of our employees and will do our best to continue the success of McDonald's business in Russia," the firm added.