AN ELDERLY man was found dead outside a house in Barrhead this morning.

The 71-year-old was discovered in the town's Kirkton Avenue in the early hours, when conditions were described as freezing.

Although it is not yet known how the pensioner died, police told The News they are not treating the incident as suspicious.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Police enquiries are ongoing into the death of a 71-year-old man in Kirkton Avenue in Barrhead on Friday, January 13.

"A post-mortem will take place in due course to establish the exact cause of death.

"However, there would not appear to be any suspicious circumstances."

Sergeant Michael Morganthaler, who is based at Giffnock Police Office, said: “There's an ongoing investigation and we will be speaking to neighbours and carrying out door-to-door enquiries.

“The man was found unresponsive outside the building and he appears to have died on the street.

“But, for the time being, there are no suspicious circumstances.

“At this time his death remains unexplained.

“We would ask anybody who knows the gentleman, who may have seen him at any time during the last 24 hours or who has any indication as to any incident he may have been involved in to contact police.”

Kirkton Avenue was initially shut off to traffic but has now been reopened.