Work on a new golf resort in Scotland being built by US tycoon Donald Trump started Wednesday, despite fierce opposition from some local people.
The billion-pound (1.1 billion euro, 1.6 billion dollar) coastal resort in Balmedie, near Aberdeen in northeast Scotland, will feature two golf courses, a hotel and around 1,000 holiday homes.
But several locals are still refusing to sell their homes to make way for the site amid a high-profile campaign backed by Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton, who lives in the region.
Trump's son Donald Trump Junior, who was at Balmedie as the work got underway, said he hoped golfers would be able to tee off at the course in between 18 months' and two years' time.
Earlier, he described the protestors as "teenage people", accusing them of "little childish stunts".
"We are trying to deliver a golf course that can really be looked at as the greatest golf course anywhere in the world," he told BBC radio Wednesday.
"The vast majority of the people of the northeast want this project to go forward and have been incredible supporters of us."
But opponents say the local council is giving Trump favourable treatment because of his wealth and fame, boosted in recent years by his role as host of US reality television show "The Apprentice".
The "Tripping Up Trump" group is threatening legal action against the plans, which they say will also be bad for the local environment. Officials insist they have acted within the rules.
Initial work on the site, which got the green light from councillors Tuesday, will involve planting marram grass in a bid to stabilise a large area of sand, erecting fencing on dunes and carrying out preparatory earthworks.
The golf development is backed by Scotland's devolved government, run by the pro-independence Scottish National Party.
Scotland's main tourism and economic development agencies also support it, saying it will attract high-spending visitors from around the world.
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