LIVE COVERAGE: Schools and roads closed in North Devon due to snow

A number of roads and schools in North Devon have been affected today due to snow. Follow our live blog below for the latest school closures and travel disruption.

Click here to view a full photo gallery of snow in North Devon.

Send your snow pictures to emma.glanfield@localworld.co.uk

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Summary of weather warnings in place for North Devon:

- Snow weather warning in place until 9pm tonight

- Ice weather warning in place until 11am on Thursday

- Rain weather warnings issued for Friday and Sunday

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ROADS UPDATE 7pm:

Traffic on the A361 North Devon Link Road between Tiverton and South Molton has ground to a halt this evening as Council Highways staff battle to keep it open.

Drivers on the North Devon link Road near Tiverton reported traffic had stopped moving on the road at around 5.30pm.

And Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed traffic has stopped flowing in the area a few miles either side of Knowstone.

One driver said she had initially been making slow progress on the road, in a queue of traffic which was following a snow plough.

However, the flow of traffic ground to a halt at around 5.30 and the woman said, along with dozens of other cars, has been stationary for an hour.

Earlier, driving conditions on the road were described as ‘hazardous’ although traffic had been making progress on the road.

ROADS UPDATE 5.30pm:

- Motorists advised to avoid ‘unnecessary travel’ this evening

- Hazardous driving conditions on A361 North Devon Link Road, especially in the Rackenford area

- The A39 on Exmoor is blocked in both directions in Oare, between the New Road junction and the Hall Hill junction, because of snow

- Hazardous driving conditions and queuing traffic on the A38 in Appledore between the B3181 junction and the B3391 junction because of snow and ice

ROADS UPDATE 3pm:

Gritters are continuing to salt Devon’s roads this afternoon in an attempt to keep all main routes open and passable.

Devon County Council’s gritting trucks will continue spreading into this evening and throughout the night as forecasters warn of continued snow fall and sub-zero temperatures.

Motorists are being advised to avoid unnecessary travel this evening.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: "Road temperatures across the county are set to fall below freezing tonight, so roads may become icy, particularly off the treated network.

"Please allow extra time for your journey, and avoid unnecessary travel this evening.”

ROADS UPDATE 1.16pm:

- Hazardous driving conditions on the A381 in Halwell at the A3122 junction

- The A361 is just passable at Mullacott Cross near Ilfracombe but driving conditions are hazardous. Only some vehicles are able to pass.

VIDEO: Driving along snow-covered road in Ilfracombe today. Uploaded by Paul Clews.

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SCHOOLS UPDATE:

- Ilfracombe Junior School and Woolacombe Primary School are asking parents to collect their children now due to heavy snow falling across the region.

A spokesman for Ilfracombe Junior School said: "Could parents collect their children as soon as possible or phone our office on 01271 863463, phone lines are busy but do keep trying."

A statement from Woolacombe said: "We are closing the school due to the weather conditions on the top roads getting into school becoming more dangerous as weather worsens. Please can you come and collect your children from school."

- Great Torrington Bluecoat Church Of England Infant School has decided to close at midday due to continuing heavy snowfall. The school said: "We will be closing from 12pm today due to the change in weather conditions."

- The Park Community School in Barnstaple has sent an email to parents allowing them to make their own decision on whether the collect their children. The email reads: "Due to the unexpected weather conditions that are differing widely in different areas of North Devon, if you judge it advisable to collect your children from school please make arrangements to do so now. Other children can be released early only if parents give their consent to school, ideally by email to avoid the phones being jammed. Every pupil must sign out before leaving. Please inform us whether you will collect your child or they are to make their own way home." However, Year 11 GCSE Examinations scheduled over the days ahead WILL go ahead. the school said: "Staff will be in school to conduct them. We cannot change these examination board timetables and therefore every effort must be made to attend."

- West Buckland School has now closed

- Kings Nympton Community Primary School has now closed

- Ilfracombe Arts College is in the process of closing due to snow and deteriorating weather conditions

- Umberleigh Community Primary School has also decided to close

- Pathfield School has closed

- Chulmleigh School is in the process of closing

A full school closure list can be found further down this page.

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WEATHER FORECAST LATEST:

The Met Office has extended a weather warning of snow for North Devon. The warning, which has been issued for the whole of North Devon, was initially in place until 10am but has since been extended until 9pm this evening.

Forecasters are warning up to 10cm of snow could fall across the region.

A spokesman for the Exeter-based Met Office said: "Further outbreaks of sleet or snow will affect parts of Wales and southwest England through today.

"A further 2-5 cm is likely in places with perhaps as much as 10 cm over high ground.

"The public should be aware that this may lead to localised disruption to transport."

An ice weather warning has also been issued for the majority of Devon tomorrow.

The warning is in place until at least 11am.

A Met Office forecaster said: As temperatures fall on Wednesday night, icy stretches will again form on many untreated surfaces especially where new snow has fallen on Wednesday or lying snow refreezes.

“There may also be a few light snow flurries in places though any new accumulations will be slight.

“It will be another very cold night with locally severe frost (this more likely in the north and east of the yellow area) and a continuing chance of light showers of rain, sleet or snow feeding inland off the sea onto eastern and some southern coasts.”

Rain weather warnings have been issued for the whole of Devon and Cornwall on Friday and Sunday.

Forecasters say a combination of rain and snow melt could lead to localised minor surface water and river flooding.

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ROADS:

LATEST:

As it stands, there are currently no new road closures in North Devon. Snow is falling heavily again across the region in areas including, Barnstaple, Chapelton, South Molton and Umberleigh.

The following roads remain affected by the current weather conditions:

• Ice and heavy snow conditions at Mullacott Cross roundabout near Ilfracombe

• Dangerous conditions on B3227 near South Molton

• A361 North Devon Link Road passable but motorists advised to take care

9.10am UPDATE:

- The carriageway is just passable but there are hazardous driving conditions on the A361 in Ilfracombe at Mullacott Cross Roundabout. Reports of motorists turning around at roundabout.

8.50am UPDATE:

- Traffic now running smoothly on A361 North Devon Link Road between Tiverton and South Molton

Gritters and snow ploughs have been working to remove snow and ice from the road surface

8.30am UPDATE:

- Reports conditions are easing on the A361 North Devon Link Road following earlier hazardous icy conditions

8.10am UPDATE:

- Highways Agency warning of hazardous road conditions across the county

- A361 between Aller Cross and Barnstaple worst affected road in North Devon

- Poor road conditions on roads on Exmoor

- Icy and heavy snow conditions at Mullacott Cross roundabout

- Traffic now moving on A377

7.45am UPDATE:

- Two inches of snow reported on the B3227, road is passable but driving conditions are difficult

- Ice between Aller Cross roundabout and Barnstaple a concern for motorists

7.20am UPDATE:

- There are hazardous driving conditions on the A361 North Devon Link Road in Rackenford at the Rifton Lane junction and in the South Molton area due to snow

- There are hazardous driving conditions on the A381 in Halwell at the A3122 junction due to snow

- Snowing heavily on A39 between Bideford and Barnstaple – traffic moving very slowly

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SCHOOLS:

Closed:

- Kentisbury Primary School in Barnstaple has now been closed for the day. It was expected to open at 10am but has made the decision to close to staff and pupils. The school said it had taken the decision due to heavy snow settling causing dangerous access to the school. No minibuses are running

- Parracombe Church Of England Primary School has also taken the decision to close. It was initially going to try and open at midday but has taken the decision to completely close. The school said: "Continued snow has caused access to become dangerous and staff are unable to access site."

- Combe Martin Primary School is closed

- East Anstey Primary School has now closed

- West Down School in Ilfracombe is closed all day due to ice

- North Molton School is closed due to snow and dangerous road conditions

- Boasley Cross Community Primary School in Bratton Clovelly near Okehampton is closed

- Spreyton School in Crediton is closed as staff are unable to travel to the school due to snow

- Ilfracombe Junior School are asking parents to collect their children

- Woolacombe Primary School are asking parents to collect their children

- West Buckland School has closed

- Kings Nympton Community Primary School is now closed

- Ilfracombe Arts College is in the process of closing due to snow and deteriorating weather conditions

- Umberleigh Community Primary School has decided to close

- Pathfield School has closed. However, Year 11 GCSE Examinations scheduled over the days ahead WILL go ahead. the school said: "Staff will be in school to conduct them. We cannot change these examination board timetables and therefore every effort must be made to attend."

- Great Torrington Bluecoat Church Of England Infant School has decided to close

- Chulmleigh School is in the process of closing

Partially closed:

- The Park Community School in Barnstaple are allowing parents to collect their children

- Berrynarbor Church Of England Primary School in Ilfracombe will open at 11am when the roads are less icy

- Holywell Church of England Primary School in Tawstock will open at 10am this morning instead of the usual start due to snow

- St Michael’s nursery in Barnstaple will be opening at 10am instead of 8am due to snow

- Bishops Nympton Primary School will open at 10am but advises parents to contact the school. A spokesman said: “We are hoping to open from 10.00 this morning. Please ring the school to hear updated messages. Thankyou.”

Open:

- Marwood School in Barnstaple is open. The school said: “Very light snow on school lanes which have been gritted. Late arrival of pupils acceptable today.”

- Ilfracombe Media Arts College will be open but with limited school transport. The college said: "There will be no school transport from Lynton (Ilf 1 and 2) and Woolacombe/Mortehoe today. School is open as usual."

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WEATHER FORECAST:

An amber weather warning of snow is in place for parts of Devon until 9am this morning.

Areas included in the amber-graded warning, which warns residents and motorists to ‘be prepared’ for snow, are Barnstaple, Lynton, Lynmouth, Combe Martin, Exmoor, the A361 North Devon Link Road and sections of the A377.

A yellow-graded snow weather warning, the lowest kind, remains in place for the Torridge area and West Devon until 10am this morning.

An ice warning is also in place for Devon and Cornwall until 11am.

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Has your journey been affected by snow or a road closure? Let us know. Email emma.glanfield@localworld.co.uk or send us a message on Twitter: @ThisisNDevon.

Don’t forget to send all your snow pictures to us as well. Alternatively, you can upload your own photographs here.

Click here to view a one-day or four-day weather forecast for North Devon.