Police are repeating their call for witnesses to come forward after a fire caused serious damage to a Coalfields fast food restaurant at the weekend.
Police would not comment on Tuesday about the cause of the blaze at Cessnock McDonald's in the early hours of Sunday - a fire that is being treated as suspicious.
But a Hunter police spokesperson said investigators were urging anyone "who may have seen or heard anything suspicious" to get in touch with officers through the Crime Stoppers hotline or online portal.
Meanwhile, the fast food restaurant has re-opened for business, but will remain drive-through-only until further notice.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Cessnock, Kearsley and Abermain were called to the eatery on the corner of Allandale Road and Ferguson Street just after 3am on Sunday, where they found the children's playground equipment well-alight.
Firefighters said the blaze, which took about two hours to extinguish, caused extensive damage to the front of the restaurant.
"Sad to see this destruction to a business that offers employment to our locals," the Cessnock crew posted on social media after the job.
Anyone with information about the fire can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
