BBC Radio Devon

A traditional way of fishing in Devon's estuaries is being banned from Thursday.

Fishing with drift and fixed gill nets is to be banned for the first time to try to conserve fish stocks.

Authorities said the nets caught fish indiscriminately, and threatened the future of vulnerable species, including bass, salmon and sea trout.

Commercial fishermen said it was another blow to their industry, making life harder and harder.

The body responsible for the ban, the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, said it was necessary to protect fish stocks.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

Snow is a rare sight for most of us, and especially those who live in the Isles of Scilly.

Gareth Tibbs lives on Bryher with his family and got this great aerial shot using a drone.

He said: "It’s been the first time I’ve seen snow on Bryher since I moved to Scilly seven years ago.

"Our children have never seen it and know they might not see it again while they're young - they are very excited!"

Image source, Gareth Tibbs

BBC Radio Devon

More than 40 schools in the Devon County Council area, external and about 50 in Plymouth, external are closed as snow and ice cause serious disruption.

BBC Radio Devon's Sophie Pierce, who was in Harbertonford, said that the main roads around Totnes "seem to be fine, but, obviously, the more minor roads are getting more difficult to access".

BBC South West's Ben Woolvin said while in Dartmouth the "one thing that is striking is how quickly the conditions are changing".

He said: "One minute your face is stinging with cold as the winds bites, then the sun comes out and you start to feel a little overdressed.

"There's plenty of traffic still on the road but not many people out and about."

Meanwhile, a flood alert has been issued by the Environment Agency for the south Devon coast from Start Point to Dawlish Warren from high tide on Wednesday evening until Sunday.

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Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

More than 160 schools have been forced to close, external, and there's disruption on many of Cornwall's roads as heavy snow and freezing temperatures take hold across much of the county.

The BBC has had several reports of people being stuck in cars, with conditions on the A394 between Longdowns and Rame described as particularly bad.

Drivers have also reported cars being stuck at Poldhu Cove, near Mullion.

Buses have also been affected, with First Kernow saying on social media, external that drivers have had to deal with "traffic at a standstill" and "treacherous" conditions in Falmouth and deciding to suspend routes leaving from Truro Bus Station.

It also had a bus stuck in the snow at Ruan Minor on the Lizard and suspended some services "beyond Helston".

It added that it "can no longer serve St Ives due to cars abandoned on the main road". St Ives-bound services are terminating at St Erth station.

The University of Exeter has closed its operations on Penryn campus near Falmouth because of the severe weather conditions.

An email from Ruth Grimmer, senior college operations manager, was sent to all students warning of the immediate closure "for safety reasons".

The email said "essential services will remain open" for people who live on campus and who cannot leave.

The Penryn campus is shared with Falmouth University.

BBC Radio Devon

In Plymouth, Salisbury Road is blocked in both directions between Cranbourne Avenue and Gwyn Road due to an accident

In Ivybridge, on Manor Drive, near St John's Road, there are reports of an accident

In Torquay, on St Marychurch Road, near Forest Road, there are reports an accident

Also in Torquay, traffic lights are not working outside Torre Station, so approach with care

BBC Spotlight

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BBC Radio Cornwall

• Breage C of E School
• Burraton CP School
• Cape Cornwall School, St Just
• Coverack School
• Cury C of E Primary School
• Cusgarne School
• Falmouth Primary Academy
• Fourlanesend CP School
• Heamoor CP School
• Helston Community College
• Humphry Davy
• King Charles School
• Garras Primary School
• Godolphin Primary School
• Grade Ruan Cof E Primary
• Landewednack CP School
• Liskeard Community College
• Manaccan School
• Mawnan C of E VA School
• Mounts Bay Academy
• Mullion School
• Mullion CP School
• Mylor Bridge CP School
• Nansloe Academy
• Nancealverne School
• Nine Maidens AP Academy
• Penpol School
• Porthleven School
• Penair School
• Penryn Primary Academy
• Sithney Primary School
• St Buryan Primary Academy
• St Cleer School
• St Hilary School
• St Levan Primary School
• St Marys CE, Penzance
• St Mawes School
• St Michaels C of E Primary School
• St Marys Catholic Primary School
• St Stephens, Saltash
• Taliesin Education T Plus Centres
• Torpoint Community College
• The Roseland Academy
• Trannack Primary School
• Trythall School
• Wendron School

The following schools have announced they are due to closed on Thursday:

• Humphry Davy
• Mullion School
• St Cleer School

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BBC Business News

Image source, Google

One of the UK's biggest electronics retailers has collapsed into administration after talks with potential buyers failed to secure a sale.

Maplin, which has more than 200 stores and 2,500 staff, will continue to trade through the process.

The business faced the slump in the pound, weak consumer confidence and a withdrawal of credit insurance.

These factors made it "impossible" to raise capital, boss Graham Harris said.

In Devon and Cornwall, the company has stores in Barnstaple, Exeter, Plymouth and Truro (pictured).

The news came shortly after retailer Toys R Us went into administration, which has branches in Plymouth and Exeter.

BBC Radio Devon

About 30 schools are closed across the county after snow and ice caused disruption.

Those closed include -

• Aveton Gifford
• Broadhempston Village Primary School
• Combe Martin Primary School
• Diptford Primary
• Ermington Primary School
• Georgeham Church of England (VC) Primary School
• Harbertonford Primary
• Ilfracombe Church of England Academy
• Ilfracombe Church of England Junior School
• Ivybridge Community College
• Kingsbridge Community Primary School is closing now and will also be closed tomorrow
• Kentisbury Primary
• Loddiswell Primary
• Lynton Primary
• Manor Primary School, Ivybridge.
• Marlborough with South Huish Primary will be closed from lunchtime for today and tomorrow.
• Marldon Church Of England Primary School
• Modbury Primary
• Newton Ferrers Primary
• Parracombe C of E Primary
• Pathfield School, Barnstaple
• St. Mary's School, Brixton
• Shirwell Primary School
• Stokenham Primary
• Totnes St John’s Church of England Primary School
• Ugborough Primary School

In Plymouth:

• Adult Learning classes provided by On Course South West have been cancelled for. This includes all daytime and evening courses across venues in the city
• City College Plymouth
• College Road Primary School
• Compton School
• Courtlands Special School Academy
• Devonport High School for Girls
• Ford Primary School, Plymouth
• Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
• Keyham Barton Catholic Primary School
• Manadon Vale Primary School
• Plym Bridge Nursery School & Day Care
• Plymouth School of Creative Arts
• Plympton Academy
• St Budeaux Foundation Junior School
• St Joseph's, Devonport
• St Peter's RC Primary School, Brentford Avenue, Whitleigh
• Shakespeare Primary School, Honicknowle
• Stoke Gabriel School
• Thornbury Primary School St Peter's CE Primary, Stonehouse
• UTC Plymouth

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John Danks
BBC Spotlight

Snow is already causing difficulty for drivers in the South West.

This van was abandoned in Plymouth.

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall