A group of dancing clowns styled after McDonald's "Ronald McDonald" character has been spotted outside the fast-food chain's UK headquarters in a protest over animal welfare.

Footage filmed on August 22 in East Finchley, London, shows the group marching towards the front doors of Hospitality House as fellow protesters beat drums.

The group performs a bizarre dance before marching away from the building.

The demonstration was reportedly organised by animal rights group Humane League in protest against the supposedly "inhumane" conditions which the company's chickens are kept in.

Pru Elliott, head of campaigns at The Humane League UK, said: “McDonald’s chicken welfare policy is little more than a smokescreen to distract consumers from the fact that they are simply not prepared to make the kind of meaningful improvements which would actually reduce the suffering of chickens.

"They are trying to paint themselves as an ethically-minded company but it is very clear that their highest priority is profit, not ethics.”