US tycoon Donald Trump has been being awarded an honorary degree by a Scottish university in recognition of his entrepreneurship.

Mr Trump was to be presented with the honorary award of Doctor of Business Administration at Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen by its chancellor Sir Ian Wood CBE.

The US businessman is currently building a £750 million luxury golf course at the Menie estate on the Aberdeenshire coast.

RGU said it had chosen to confer the degree on Mr Trump in recognition of his business acumen, entrepreneurial vision and the long-term future his company is planning in the north-east of Scotland.

However the university's decision to honour Mr Trump has sparked controversy, with criticism from those opposed to his development plans.

Construction of Mr Trump's golf course started in July after Aberdeenshire Council granted full planning permission to Trump International, with the work scheduled for completion in 2012.

A campaign against the development is being co-ordinated by the Tripping up Trump group, which wants to stop the council from serving compulsory purchase orders on families and other people who own land on parts of the site.