Donald Trump warns first minister not to be 'Mad Alex' over wind power

Donald Trump has opposed the proposed offshore wind farm

US businessman Donald Trump has warned First Minister Alex Salmond he could become known as "Mad Alex" over wind power plans.

Mr Trump has halted work on his £1bn luxury golf resort in Aberdeenshire, over plans to build an offshore wind farm nearby.

His organisation has also said it may spend £10m fighting such developments.

In a letter to Mr Salmond, Mr Trump said he would be known as "the man who destroyed Scotland".

The Scottish government said it welcomed the "widest possible debate". The Lib Dems accused Mr Trump of "bullying" tactics.

A planning application for the wind farm off Aberdeen Bay, 2km (1.2 miles) from Mr Trump's planned golf course, was submitted to Marine Scotland in August last year.

The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre is a £150m joint venture by utility company Vattenfall, engineering firm Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group.

In February, Mr Trump accused the first minister of being "hell bent on destroying Scotland's coastline" with wind power.

'Massive potential'

Mr Trump has written in his latest letter: "Do you want to be known for centuries to come as 'Mad Alex - the man who destroyed Scotland'?

"If you pursue this craziness Scotland will go broke and forever lose what chance you currently have of making Scotland independent.

"Wind energy is highly inefficient. Be smart and try to get yourself out of this mess."

A Scottish government spokesman said: "An application for consent for the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre has been submitted to Marine Scotland, and we are currently considering the views of consultees, interested parties, and the public.

"Scotland has massive green energy potential - with a quarter of Europe's tidal and offshore wind potential and a tenth of its wave power - and we have a responsibility to ensure that Scotland seizes the opportunity to create tens of thousands of new jobs and secure billions of pounds of investment.

"We welcome the widest possible debate on how developing our clean, green energy resources is bringing industry and jobs to communities across Scotland."

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said Mr Trump's comments were "hysterical".

Mr Rennie added: "He can't bully Scotland against meeting its climate change obligations and renewable energy ambitions."