Initial construction work on tycoon Donald Trump's £1bn golf resort, at the Menie estate, North of Aberdeen, has begun.

On Tuesday, Aberdeenshire councillors on the Formartine Committee gave the go-ahead for the preparatory work to stabilise the shifting sand dunes to be carried out.

Work includes the laying of marram grass, earthwork and fencing.

Donald Trump Jnr, the son of the New York-based billionaire, who was at the site earlier, told BBC Scotland: "This is a long-term project, it's one component of many that is getting under way.

"We are trying to deliver the greatest golf course anywhere in the world, we believe we have the land to do that, we believe we have the team to do that. Golf has been a major passion for my father."

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He continued: "There have been a couple of detractors that don't want this to go forward. It's getting ridiculous and childish. We have been under incredible scrutiny. That will never be enough for some of the extremists.

"I think maybe the stunts we have seen will be their last hurrah.

"Others we have incredible relationships with. The vast majority of the people of the north east want this project to go forward."

Trump's contentious plans for two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes and 500 houses were the subject of a public local inquiry by the Scottish government after they were rejected by an Aberdeenshire Council committee.

The plans were then backed by Finance Secretary John Swinney under a number of conditions including the protection of sand dunes and wildlife on the estate. A full masterplan for the estate is expected to be ready for submission next year.

The Trump Organisation is still in negotiations to buy a handful of properties on the site, but the owners are refusing to sell.

(GK/KMcA)