THE per-peri chicken chain, Nando's has issued a statement after some restaurants across the UK were forced to close due to chicken shortages.

The chain, which has restaurants across the region including in the Metrocentre, Durham, Darlington and Newcastle, said around 50 restaurants had been affected.

According to its website, most of its North East restaurants - except Teesside Park near Stockton - are set to open today.

Meanwhile, its Metrocentre restaurant in the blue mall is listed on the official website as opening for reduced hours.

According to the BBC, the chain has faced supply shortages of chicken as staff have been reportedly loaned to suppliers to "get things moving again."

Responding to disgruntled customers on Twitter, Nando’s described the situation as “a bit of a ‘mare' as it addressed queries over restaurant closures.

In a statement, the restaurant chain said: “The UK supply chain is having a bit of a ‘mare’ right now.

“This is having a knock-on effect with some of our restaurants across England, Scotland and Wales.

“We are doing everything we can to get the peri-peri back where it belongs – on your plates!”

In another tweet, the chain apologised for the “disappointment” and added that suppliers could not keep up with “demand for peri-peri”.

Nando’s said: “We’re sorry for any disappointment caused.

“Our suppliers are struggling to keep up with demand for peri-peri. Meaning that some of our restaurants have had to temporarily close to restock.”

Nando's has not yet revealed what has caused the shortages, but it comes just weeks after supermarket chains saw empty shelves due to the "pingdemic."

At the time, thousands of HGV drivers were reportedly self-isolating after receiving notifications from the NHS Test and Trace app.

The rules on self-isolation changed on Monday, with those fully-jabbed no longer needing to quarantine if they come into close contact with a Covid case as long as they take regular testing.

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