A resident who faces being forced out of his home to make way for Donald Trump’s Aberdeenshire golf development has made an impassioned plea to councillors.

David Milne who has lived at Hermit Point for 17 years addressed Aberdeenshire Council this morning after it was revealed that Mr Trump had asked the local authority to consider using their compulsory purchase powers.

The American businessman's £1billion vision for the Menie Estate includes two golf courses, a hotel and housing.

Mr Milne and farmer Michael Forbes have both rejected offers of 15% over market value for their homes, as well as the chance to buy one of the new properties on the estate at cost price and a lifetime membership of the facilities.

Before today’s meeting of the local authority Mr Milne submitted a petition with 15,000 signatures gathered by protest group Tripping Up Trump.

Addressing the council, Mr Milne urged councillors to vote against the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs).

He said: "I don’t know how many of you have even tried to imagine what its like not knowing if you're home will be your own for much longer. Not knowing if the next birthday or Christmas will be the last in your own house.

“To delay taking this vote today would also add to the intolerable, psychological torture that we are under.

“I ask you now to stand up for your own personal conscience, stand up for ethics, stand-up for morals and stand up for the reputation of Aberdeenshire by rejecting both the developers request to delay the decision and the basic concept of a local authority using compulsory purchase powers to support a private commercial leisure development to the detriment of their constituents.”

Councillors arriving at today’s Aberdeenshire Council meeting at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre were greeted to the sight of around 60 protestors waving banners and placards.

Councillor Martin Ford's motion to ask the local authority not to use their powers to force people from their properties will be discussed.

However a spokesman for the council said:" Despite a great deal of speculation, there is no formal report included on the agenda for discussion about the possible use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) on the Menie Estate.

"The applicant, Trump International, has asked that a report not be submitted to this meeting of council, in order to allow further time for negotiations with homeowners on the estate.

"Therefore, councillors will not be provided with detailed information about the use of CPO, nor will they be formally asked to make a decision on the matter."

Cllr Ford lost his job as chair of the infrastructure services committee after originally throwing out the golf course development plans.

Donald Trump has accused him of putting his political agenda before the interests of his constituents.