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We may be in recessionary times but people are still keen to sniff out a good business opportunity - even those that aren't really there.

On April Fool's Day, property agent Davis Coffer Lyons (DCL) "announced" that it had been instructed to roll out 1,000 new sites for a new edible insect group called 'Love Bug' that had been very successful in the States.

If alarm bells were not ringing about the name (or the number of sites), then the quote should really have given things away.

Brandon Elmon, head of agency acquisitions, said: "We definitely think this concept has legs and will fly. In five years' time, there will be swarms of them."

While a number of clients contacted DCL to commend the joke, a "substantial" number fell for it and were e-mailing for further details, such as size requirements and locations.

One property developer even suggested that the concept would be a perfect fit for a new complex it was building. A DCL agent quietly pointed out there was no such concept after all.

And, Kitchen Rat''s mole at DCL tells us, people are still ringing up and asking about it, despite this announcement on the company website.

Which begs the question - should someone actually create the concept?

Donald Trump's controversial plan for Trump International Golf Links Scotland - two golf courses, a five star hotel and small village near Balmedie, north of Aberdeen has finally been given the go ahead after years of wrangling.

Environmental campaigners had managed to stall the plans last year after winning what now turns out to have been a pyrrhic victory. Scottish Finance Secretary John Sinney said the proved had been approved because it would bring "significant economic and social benefits" to the area, but environmentalists remain unconvinced.

Rob Ashlin from Sustainable Aberdeenshire group slammed the ruling as disappointing, adding the development flew in the face of the council's planning policy.

Property agents Christie & Co held their annual Business Outlook presentation yesterday in Trinity House opposite the Tower of London.

As ever it was a professional affair with as many statistics on the hospitality property market last year, and predictions for 2008, as a statistician could wish for.

Christie’s international managing director Chris Day led the way, highlighting some of the company’s greatest successes in 2007 by sector.

When it came to a round-up of done deals in the leisure sector the dead pan Mr Day was on fine form when he described the successful sale of Pantiles nightclub, a cavernous site in Bagshot, Surrey, to Sunrise Senior Living.

After the briefest of pauses for effect, Day, with a completely straight face, added: “One imagines they will be changing the use of the building”, which drew well deserved laughter from the audience.

Hotel du Vin acquires St Andrews Golf Hotel>>

Award-winning Nobody Inn sold for £1.6m>>