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US tycoon Donald Trump flew into Scotland today to fresh protests against his plans for a luxury golf resort.

The businessman arrived in Aberdeen with son Donald jnr and vowed that his plans for the "greatest golf course in the world" on the Aberdeenshire coast will go ahead despite local objections.

Opponents of the £750 million project announced today that they have taken ownership of a one-acre stretch of land at the heart of the resort site, which includes protected sand dunes, claiming this will block the project in its current form.

But Mr Trump said today: "This will be a masterpiece when it's completed. As with many of my projects, when it's completed I think that everybody in this room and more importantly all of Aberdeen and all of Scotland will say thank you."

The businessman said Sir Sean Connery and Colin Montgomerie backed the development, and claimed it will boost tourism.

As well as a championship golf course, the luxury development on the Menie Estate includes a 450-bedroom hotel, 950 holiday apartments and 500 residential homes.

Mr Trump claimed the residents refusing to sell would not affect the construction of the golf course, which is already under way and should be finished in 18 months, or any of the homes.

Protesters from the Tripping Up Trump campaign group were outside the airport as the pair arrived this morning.

Spokeswoman Sue Edwards said: "You cannot just walk over the homeowners on the estate. These are people who have lived in their homes for years."

Local resident Michael Forbes, who has refused to sell his home, said today: "The Tripping Up Trump campaign has now acquired land at Mill of Menie to defend the homes under threat of compulsory purchase.

"The Trump Organisation will now have to deal with many more objectors than they anticipated."

Opponents insist this will stop the project going ahead in its current form.

Mr Trump said his organisation has not yet decided whether it would build the hotel if Mr Forbes refuses to sell, but criticised the appearance of Mr Forbes's property, describing it as a "slum".

Mr Trump said: "I just wish he would clean up his property, it is a pig sty. It's terrible, his barn is all rusty and falling down.

"The hotel has the chance to be something really outstanding but it's awfully hard when a window is overlooking a slum and you see rusting oil cans."

The masterplan for the resort, published earlier this year, will be considered by Aberdeenshire Council later in the year. Councillors have refused to rule out using compulsory purchase orders to remove residents from the land.

Asked whether he would ask for compulsory purchase orders on the homes whose owners were refusing to sell, Mr Trump replied: "I'm going to speak to the council. It's going to be their decision."

Mr Trump said he is to name the dunes in the resort "the Great Dunes of Scotland" in memory of his mother Mary Macleod, who was born in Stornoway.

The project cost has dropped from £1 billion to £750 million because of the economic climate, Mr Trump said.

He said he is using cash to create the resort rather than rely on financing.

Mr Trump and his son will spend the next three days visiting the Menie Estate and holding talks with the design and construction team.