A BID by American tycoon Donald Trump to argue against the Scottish Government in a major wind farm project on Shetland was rejected by civil appeal judges yesterday.

Mr Trump has already gone to court to challenge plans for an offshore wind farm in Aberdeen Bay two kilometres from his resort and golf course at Balmedie.

But his lawyers were also prepared to intervene in an appeal due to be heard next year brought by ministers over the Viking wind farm in Shetland after a judge ruled against them in that case.

The Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Carloway, sitting with Lady Smith and Lady Dorrian, rejected their application at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Lord Carloway said: "The Trump Organisation and its related companies are already involved in a litigation where they can seek the remedy which they wish to achieve."

Gordon Steele QC, for the Trump organisation, said they did not think it right that a matter of such importance should proceed without another party providing contradictory arguments.

The court has appointed an independent QC to provide advice on the issue.

The appeal judges also rejected a bid by commercial wind farm developers to enter the Shetland case. They also refused a move by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to become involved over the interpretation of the 2009 Wild Birds Directive.