THE police and other public bodies have been asked to respond to claims they ignored concerns of local people during the planning process which approved tycoon Donald Trump's Aberdeenshire golf resort.

MSPs agreed to take further evidence after considering a 19,000-name petition calling for an inquiry into the controversial development.

Protesters believe a range of public authorities "overstepped boundaries" during the long-running planning application, which was approved by Finance Secretary John Swinney in 2008.

Police Scotland, Aberdeenshire Council, Marine Scotland Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Natural Heritage will all be asked to comment.

Campaigner David Milne, who lives on the Menie Estate bought by the US developer, told Holyrood's petition committee the planning process was a "systematic failure".

Speaking after yesterday's meeting, he welcomed the decision to investigate further. He said: "We never really expected a full public inquiry but if these bodies recognise there are problems and there are issues in the way they've handled this then there's potential that the next time it comes around to someone else, they won't be treated in quite the same way."

Mr Trump's £750 million golf resort opened last summer.

The Trump Organisation has described the petition as having "no basis". It recently submitted plans for a second 18-hole golf course to the south of the existing one.