A man has appeared in court charged with murder after a grandfather was found dying by the side of the road more than four miles from his home.

Michael Smith, 29, made no plea when he appeared in private at Airdrie Sheriff Court following the death of Colin MacDonald in August.

READ MORE: Man charged over death of grandfather Colin MacDonald in Airdrie

Officers were called to reports of a disturbance at the home of Mr MacDonald on Frew Street in Airdrie in the early hours August 19.

He was later discovered seriously injured on a street in the nearby village of Greengairs and was rushed to Monklands Hospital, where he later died.

READ MORE: Family of murdered Airdrie man Colin MacDonald plead for justice

Smith, of Airdrie, also faces a charge that he attempted to defeat the ends of justice and a further charge that he failed to comply with bail conditions.

He is due to appear back in court within the next eight days.