The day Big Mac met Pret

Fast-food giant McDonald's has bought a 33 per cent stake in the politically correct sandwich chain Pret a Manger, an unlikely marriage which brings together two successful operators from very different ends of the culinary spectrum.

The bean counters clearly think the combination of Big Macs and avocado wraps is a recipe for financial success but, McDonald's customers and Pret aficionados remain worlds apart.

Grimacing at the McDonald's double sausage and egg McMuffin, hash brown and orange juice with which she was confronted, she protested: "Do I really have to? It's not exactly dolphin-friendly tuna, is it?"

After five minutes of cranking herself up to the strains of Kylie Minogue, she eventually tackled her breakfast.

"Oh God, the orange juice tastes like powder, the hash brown is so oily it's disgusting and the sausage burger is disguised in spices - and that's a compliment.

"If Pret starts selling burgers over the counter, I'm out of there.

"The worry is that Pret stores will now start popping up everywhere and you can imagine them appearing even in India and Moscow - everywhere where there's a McDonald's.

"McDonald's is cheap and cheerful. The same is going to happen to Pret. They are going to kill it.

"If they reduce the cost of sandwiches to attract customers, the high quality of food will inevitably suffer. McDonald's and style do not go together."

Dragging them kicking and screaming from their 99p McDonald's specials took some effort. "What's Pret?" they protested in unison. "What, that posh place?"

Once inside the sight of three workers in fluorescent yellow jackets caused quite a stir as suited customers stared from the corner of their eyes in apparent horror.

Chris, 27, who is "single, what you doing tonight?", said: "It's a bit upper class in here. The coffee isn't bad - better than McDonald's. What's it called? A latte?

"You can't relax in here. I might feel a bit better if I took my 'highvis' jacket off - but it's not McDonald's, is it?"

David Leach, 39, had never sampled a croissant before. The verdict? "Blimey, it tastes like paper. What's the point of having that for breakfast? Wouldn't satisfy a pigeon.