Donald Trump wind farm challenge to start 'fairly soon'

Donald Trump will be launching a legal challenge "fairly soon" over the Scottish government's decision to grant planning permission for a wind farm off the Aberdeenshire coast.

The US tycoon told BBC Scotland he was going ahead with the action for the people of Scotland.

Mr Trump opposes the development because he says it will spoil the views from his Menie estate golf course.

Ministers believe renewable energy is essential for Scotland's economy.

Mr Trump said he had already hired "excellent" lawyers.

"They are as incensed as I am and as many people in Scotland are," he said.

"This isn't just Donald Trump. We have thousands of people all over Scotland that are absolutely incensed.

"I probably started that because I said something can be done about this."

He added: "This is a travesty - what's happening in Scotland, one of the most beautiful places on earth.

"We have hired a law firm and we will start the process "fairly soon".

The American businessman had previously said his 140-bedroom hotel at Menie would only proceed if plans for the wind farm did not go ahead.

The £230m wind farm development consists of 11 wind turbines and is aimed at providing enough energy for more than 49,000 homes.

The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) project is a joint venture by utility company Vattenfall, engineering firm Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (Areg).

The Scottish government said the centre would allow offshore wind developers and supply chain companies to test "cutting edge" wind technology before its commercial deployment.