Dramatic drone footage shows an underground coal fire still burning next to homes - after six months.

The blaze

was first spotted in July but has worsened - with residents saying it leaves their backyards covered in soot.

New video shows smoke drifting up from the soil, with residents' homes just metres away.

Locals in Shawhead, Coatbridge, Scotland have raised fears of respiratory illnesses.

Jordan Mclay shared his footage on his TikTok account @daftywithadrone on December 27, stating that the smell of burning coal was "overwhelming"."

He said: "When I arrived to film, the stench of burning coal hit instantly - and even during my short time here, the fumes irritated my asthma. "

"It really puts into perspective what nearby residents are living with every day."

"This isn't just a bit of smoke… it's a daily quality-of-life issue affecting homes, families and health."

The site is understood to be a colliery spoil containing waste materials such as coal and iron ore, buried beneath the ground during steelworks operations in the 1800s.

While North Lanarkshire Council paused its efforts to extinguish the blaze over the festive period, work began again on January 5.

Both the local council and the Scottish Fire and Rescue service has stated that the fire poses no health risk to those in the area.

Local resident Kevin McAllister said: "Every day, there's a constant smell."

"There's a dust debris that falls on the houses and cars as well."

"Since it's started, kids haven't been able to play out the back because of the smell and the smoke."

"A lot of people are now worried about the long-term health issues that they might be facing because of the amount of dust that is actually falling."

"We've had fires spontaneously bursting out the back. We can constantly smell burning and hear crackling."

"There doesn't seem to be any resolution."

Mohammed Salim, explained his concerns over the smoke inhalation, and described seeing "black smoke" creeping over his fence."

"We've been told there will be no health problems from the smoke, but sometimes it gets very hard for me to breathe," he said."

"People like me, with health issues, my neighbours - we've stopped going out."

"I haven't seen children playing outside in months."

"For seven months this has been going on - I'm worried it's having an effect on the water."

One resident added: "My parents stay there, one day you pay the window cleaner and the next they are covered in black soot even the footpaths and decking area then it gets trailed into the homes, it's unfair on the residents."

Another added: "This is literally at my back garden, its been horrific. Haven't been able to let my weans out to play in months, everything is ruined."

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: "Work on site restarted on Monday following the festive break. "

"Throughout the shutdown period, the site was monitored and there were no visible signs that the fire deteriorated or spread while works were paused."

"Despite the cold temperatures, excavation has progressed very well, and we have removed further significant amounts of the remaining smouldering material this week. "

"Additional dust suppression will be in place using water nebulisation (mist cannons) to help manage airborne dust from the beginning of next week. "

"Unfortunately, freezing conditions temporarily affected our specialist contractors water supply earlier in the week, but this is improving and these measures will be fully operational soon."

"Air-quality monitoring remains in place across the site, and all readings continue to show levels within safe limits. "

"We continue to work closely with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and NHS Lanarkshire, meeting regularly to coordinate this complex operation. "

"Our priority remains the same, to safely extinguish the smouldering material and minimise disruption for our local community."

"As we get closer to fully extinguishing the affected area, it is vital to remember that safety remains paramount. "

"The site is an active fire and remediation area, with unstable ground and heavy machinery in use. "

"Please continue to stay well clear of the fenced-off area and follow all signage and advice provided."

SFRS Area Commander Stephen Nesbit, who is Local Senior Officer for Lanarkshire, said: "The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received a call at approximately 10:00am on Monday, 21 July, regarding a deep-seated fire in the open, located to the rear of properties on Burleigh Street, Coatbridge."

"Following attendance at this incident, SFRS personnel worked with partners from North Lanarkshire Council to clear an area of vegetation while working to extinguish the fire."

""Coordination for this response has been handed over to the local authority, which is the lead agency. SFRS remains involved in supporting our partners to safely resolve the incident, and appropriate control measures are in place."

"There is no identified public health risk at this time, and the safety of residents remains our top priority."

"Should any changes occur in public health guidance or risk levels, residents will be informed promptly through the appropriate channels."