The Scottish Government has allowed Donald Trump to keep an 80ft flagpole erected without permission at his Aberdeenshire golf course.

The US president-elect appealed to the government when the local council rejected a retrospective planning application in April.

An inspector who visited Trump International Golf Links found no problem with the flagpole or the flag, despite concerns over its "tatty appearance".

They reported: "Whilst I understand the concerns of local people that the flagpole has been erected in advance of planning permission being granted, for the purposes of the appeal, I must assess the proposal in the same way as if the flagpole had not been already erected.

"There are no material considerations which would still justify refusing to grant planning permission."

The Scottish Government had been expected to make a ruling before the US presidential election on November 8 but the decision was delayed.

Mr Trump was criticised during his campaign for reportedly using charity money to settle a dispute over an 80ft flagpole at his golf resort in Palm Beach, California.

The billionaire faced a $120,000 fine for putting the flagpole up without planning permission in 2007.

Mr Trump instead agreed to donate $100,000 to charity - money which reportedly came from the coffers of the Trump Foundation.

In 2014, a 70ft flagpole at Mr Trump's Rancho Palos Verdes golf course in California was given planning permission almost a decade after it was erected.

Flags also hit the headlines during the president-elect's last visit to Scotland, when protesters flew Mexican flags on the border of the Menie Estate.

A spokeswoman for Trump International said: "We are pleased that our appeal to fly our national flag was successful and that common sense has prevailed.

"The local planning committee's decision to prevent us from flying the saltire by our championship golf course was very disappointing - it is frustrating that valuable time and resources are spent defending such things."

Aberdeenshire Council said it noted the Scottish Government's decision.