Fears about the potential of offshore wind farms to "blight" a championship golf course have been raised by an MEP.
Such a development off the coast of Ayrshire could have a devastating impact on the Turnberry course and surrounding area if given the green light by ministers, according to Conservative Struan Stevenson.
The Tory MEP believes large industrial wind turbines about 3.5 miles (5.7km) off the coast would ruin the view of Ailsa Craig and Arran from the course which has hosted several Open Golf championships.
The Scottish Government insists that no application for a wind farm to be built in the area has been received.
An area off the Ayrshire coast was identified in an official report looking at the potential for future offshore wind farm development in Scottish waters.
Marine Scotland produced the document in November last year, which outlined areas suitable for the technology. Official figures suggest any development could cover 116 sq m (301 sq km).
Mr Stevenson, a member of the European Parliament's Environment Committee, blasted "turbine tyrants" and said the First Minister is "hell-bent" on destroying the landscape.
Referring to the "true horror story of what could be planned for the Firth of Clyde", the MEP said: "Incredibly, Marine Scotland has designated a vast area directly in front of Turnberry as a search area where turbines could potentially be sited. This proves that nowhere in Scotland is sacrosanct. Nowhere is safe from the relentless obsession of the SNP's turbine tyrants.
"Alex Salmond is hell-bent on the destruction of our landscape, seascape and tourist sector while he chases unachievable and uneconomic targets for almost totally useless wind turbines.
"It is not only golfers who should rise up in protest at this national act of vandalism, all people who love Scotland and cherish the coasts and countryside that we inherited from our ancestors should condemn such proposals out of hand."
