US tycoon Donald Trump today said he would help save Scotland from "this madness" by speaking out against wind turbines.

The flamboyant businessman has been invited to appear before a Holyrood committee which is probing the Scottish Government's green energy targets.

The American billionaire will give evidence to MSPs on the Scottish Parliament's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee on the issue.

He said: "It will be my great honour to testify about the impact that these atrocious industrial wind turbines will have on Scotland, which are ruining the landscapes and environments all over the world."

MSPs on the committee are investigating how achievable the Scottish Government's 2020 renewable energy targets are.

Mr Trump was invited to give evidence after he branded wind turbines "ugly monstrosities" and "horrendous machines", and decided to bankroll an anti-wind farm campaign "to save Scotland".

He has already expressed his opposition to a proposed offshore wind farm near the site of the luxury golf resort he is building in Aberdeenshire.

Mr Trump has halted work on his resort until a decision on the wind farm is made by the Scottish Government.

Today, Mr Trump said he had "invested a tremendous amount of money in Scotland because it is a place of great beauty and is also the birthplace of my mother".

He added: "Interestingly, it will be the greatest gift to my mother to stop this atrocity, even more important than having built what is already being considered to be the greatest golf course anywhere in the world.

"I look forward to testifying and helping Scotland save itself from this madness."

Mr Trump has also written to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, urging him: "Please do not ruin Scotland's environment and its greatest asset - outside of its people - its magnificent coastline."