Donald Trump golf critic Martin Ford stands for Greens

Councillor Martin Ford will top the regional list for the North East of Scotland

A critic of US tycoon Donald Trump's planned golf resort in Aberdeenshire is to stand for the Greens at the next Holyrood elections.

Councillor Martin Ford will top the regional list for the North East of Scotland.

In December 2007, Mr Ford was sacked as Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure services committee chair after his vote saw the Balmedie golf plan thrown out.

Scottish ministers stepped in and later gave the development the go-ahead.

The announcement came as the Greens confirmed their top candidates in six of the eight list regions.

Party leader Patrick Harvie has retained his position at the head of the Glasgow list, while Edinburgh councillor Alison Johnstone tops the Lothian list following Robin Harper's decision to stand down at the May 2011 poll.

Two former Green MSPs, Mark Ruskell and Eleanor Scott, have topped the lists in Mid Scotland and the Highlands and Islands respectively, with Kirsten Robb standing in the list in Central Scotland.

Mr Ford, who has had long-standing concerns with the Trump development, joined the Greens after quitting the Lib Dems.

Mr Ford said: "The North East needs a strong Green voice in Holyrood, someone local people can trust."

Work on Mr Trump's controversial golf course got under way earlier this year.

He has vowed to build the "world's greatest golf course" at Menie.

The billionaire believes the total cost of the project is likely to be about £750m.

Some local people have refused to sell him their properties.

The Scottish Green candidates in the South and West regions will be announced later.