Paisley contacts Trump over plans for golf resort

The North's First Minister Ian Paisley was tonight making contact with American billionaire Donald Trump about the possibility of him relocating plans for a golf resort to the province.

Officials from Mr Paisley's and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness's department were in touch with Mr Trump during a visit to New York after major doubts surfaced about whether the project could go ahead in Scotland.

An Aberdeenshire council committee last week refused to give approval for the resort.

However it is understood the Northern Executive will discuss with Mr Trump, who hosts the US television version of 'The Apprentice', the possibility of relocating it to Co Antrim.

As he attended a reception in the New York Athletic Club off Central Park, Mr Paisley confirmed that the Stormont power-sharing executive was keen to talk to the businessman.

"We have put the calls out that we are willing to talk to him," the Democratic Unionist leader confirmed.

"Of course we welcome any one who wants to invest in Northern Ireland and who has an interest, in creating jobs, making money and developing our tourist industry.

"We would look on that as very positive."

Stormont Executive sources said arrangements were being made for a high powered phone call between the First Minister and Mr Trump.

If Northern Ireland's leaders were to secure the support of Mr Trump, they would be anxious to ensure that there were no planning hiccups for the prestige resort.