An award-winning investigative journalist was thrown out of Donald Trump’s resort ahead of a visit to the UK by the former American President.

The Scotsman’s investigations correspondent Martyn McLaughlin was ejected from Trump Turnberry, in Ayrshire, as Mr Trump prepared to visit his hotel.

Martyn, pictured, had initially been granted admission to the golf resort after presenting an official National Union of Journalists press card as identification.

However, he was later escorted from the premises by a security worker and was subsequently told there was “strictly” no press access to the property.

Martyn, who won Regional Press Awards Reporter of the Year twice in a row, said: “The staff at Turnberry were very polite and helpful, and were clearly just doing their job. But it was disappointing not to be allowed access.

“Mr Trump may have been in Scotland as a private citizen, but as someone who has already committed to running for office again, there’s a clear public interest in his visit.”

Martyn had arrived at the Trump Turnberry resort at 10am on Tuesday ahead of the former US president’s arrival, and after being asked to show identification – presenting an official NUJ press card – was granted access to the site by a member of the security team.

However, minutes later, he was approached to explain that the access was being rescinded, with Martyn then being escorted to the exit by a security worker on the orders of the hotel manager.

Ricky Hall, Trump Turnberry’s director of golf, later came out of the clubhouse to explain the decision to him.

Mr Hall said: “There’s not an official press event, we’ve been strictly advised no press allowed on the property.

“There is no press access. The only access to the car park and the hotel is for the people that are on the list that the security forces and the police have.

“There’s no press event being planned. The only press event was the little press event yesterday at Aberdeen.”

Martyn has covered Mr Trump’s Scottish business affairs extensively in recent years, contributing to his Regional Press Awards victories.

His coverage was also subject to multiple complaints to the Independent Press Standards Organisation, which were subsequently thrown out, after he covered a speech given by Sarah Malone, executive vice president of Trump International, in which she gave her views on President Trump and his business dealings in Scotland.

IPSO rejected complaints by Trump International, Ms Malone, her father Thomas Malone and her husband Damian Bates, the former editor of Aberdeen dailies the Evening Express and Press & Journal, about the Edinburgh-based daily’s coverage of the event.

HTFP has approached Trump Turnberry for a comment.