A top advisor is being sent by US billionaire Donald Trump to Northern Ireland to research potential investment opportunities, it has emerged.

George Sorial, Trump’s Managing Director for International Development is due to visit four locations which could be possible sites for a billion-pound golf complex, on a two-day fact finding mission.

Stormont First Minister Ian Paisley had met with the 61-year-old entrepreneur in December to discuss the possibility of the project being brought to the province.

However, it was originally hoped the course could have been built in the north of Scotland.

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Aberdeenshire Council rejected the initial planning bid, leading to an inquiry on how the council handled the proposal, being carried out by the Scottish Executive.

It is understood Mr Trump is becoming increasingly frustrated with delays and is viewing Northern Ireland as a possible location for the course and complex.

Mr Sorial said: "Northern Ireland is very much on our horizon now.

"I came here before three weeks ago, but we kept that below the radar. I am now coming back to look more closely at some options."

He is due to arrive in Belfast this evening, and will be a guest at a dinner hosted by Ian Paisley jnr.

A source close to the NI Assembly's First Minister said the purpose of Mr Sorial’s visit was to carry out "exploratory investigations."

"Nothing has been agreed and this is very much an exploratory trip, but if Donald Trump is going to invest in Northern Ireland he would certainly be welcome," the source commented.

According to reports, one of the proposed sites for the development in Runkerry, near Bushmills in north Antrim.

(JM)