DONALD Trump has won a battle against residents living near his Scots golf course after he was accused of flouting planning rules.

Neighbours had objected after entrance walls and a bag drop building were erected at the Trump International Links course in Aberdeenshire without planning permission.

They said the features damaged the character of the area, with one objector comparing the granite walls to a house "out of Coronation Street".

The US presidential candidate opened the Trump International Golf Links at the Menie estate in 2012 following a battle with environmental campaigners opposed to the construction of a course on protected sand dunes.

Following the latest row, Aberdeenshire Council have ruled that Mr Trump can keep the entrance feature and the bag drop facility after he submitted retrospective planning applications.

Around 10 people sent letters of objections to the council asking for the tycoon's plans to be refused.

Margaret Wallace said his company, Trump International Golf Links Scotland, had shown a "disregard and disrespect of the planning process".

She wrote: "The walls have been built with a thin cladding of small, quite regularly sized stone. This is not in keeping with walls in the North East of Scotland. It is more reminiscent of the Duckworth's house front on Coronation Street!

"This application should be refused as there is a complete disregard for the planning process with the numerous retrospective planning applications and the poor nature of this construction."

However in a written ruling, council planners said: "The materials that have been used for the construction of the wall are considered acceptable and of a high quality. The use of granite on the front facade is not uncommon within a countryside location.

"It is noted that the granite has been semi-dressed but the stones are random in size. The overall look of the wall is more organised than a coursed rubble wall would be, however the appearance of the wall is considered acceptable in this location."

Speaking about the bag drop, they said: "Overall, the building has minimal impact in the coastal location."