Donald Trump's representatives yesterday held a secret meeting with the companies behind plans for a £200 million offshore wind farm near his golf resort.

The tycoon's move came after he denounced the proposal as "visually destructive" and claimed that if it goes ahead, it would mean the Scottish coast in the north east will be "forever ruined".

Trump had warned First Minister Alex Salmond warning that, if approved, he may have to reconsider his investment in the Trump International Golf Links at the Menie Estate in Balmedie.

David Rodger, the project spokesperson for European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre, said: "Representatives of the EOWDC and The Trump Organisation met on December 6 and had a full and frank private exchange of views."