Historians at the University of Southampton have mapped the trading routes of medieval shipping which helped "sow the seeds of the British maritime empire".

More than 50,000 ship movements from 600 ports around England, Wales and the Channel Islands, dating between 1400 and 1580 have been compiled for the interactive map and database, external.

Researchers found most shipping at the time was done between local ports rather than going abroad with traders opting for ships rather than using the country's mud-track roads.

They also found that, as well as familiar ports still in use such as Southampton, Falmouth, Cardiff and Liverpool, a large number of smaller coastal and river towns were once bustling ports, including Bewdley on the River Severn in Worcestershire, which has 200 voyages logged in the database.

Image source, Peter Facey

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Guernsey FC boss Tony Vance has Dave Rihoy and Ryan-Zico Black in his squad for the visit of Ashford United to Footes Lane on Saturday.

Also back in the matchday 16 is Ben Coulter after all three missed the trip to Thamesmead Town nine days ago.

Image source, Fran Torode

They replace an ill Paris Pereira and an unavailable Kyle Smith, while Vance is also without Dominic Heaume and Angus Mackay.

Vance will be hoping for an upturn in form for his side, who have lost seven of their last eight games and have not scored a goal since 30 December.

Guernsey FC: Stanton, Kelly, Marsh, Geall, Fallaize, Le Prevost, Dodd, De La Mare, Dodds, Black, Coulter, Skillen, Gauvain, Young, Loaring, Rihoy.

Rob England
BBC News Online

Work to extend an archive holding 600 years of Jersey's records and historical documents will begin on Monday as staff say "more space is needed".

Image source, Jersey Archive

A spokesman for the Economic Development, Tourism Sport and Culture Department said the £3.5m plans will be "innovative", with "up-to-date building materials and specialist techniques" to ensure it is "moisture free".

Archivists say the introduction of Jersey’s Freedom of Information Law, introduced in 2015, has seen "a significant number of States records" passed to Jersey Heritage.

Jersey Heritage’s Archives and Collections Director, Linda Romeril, says the service "needs more space" in the medium to long term.

Previous reports from the archive indicated it could be full by 2019.

The Assistant Minister with responsibility for Culture, Deputy Murray Norton, said the archive could be "at capacity" within two to three years, and was an "important investment".

BBC Radio Guernsey

Blanchelande College may not be able to cater for the increased demand it is seeing following last week's vote on the future of secondary and post-16 education in Guernsey, according to staff.

The private school - along with Elizabeth College and The Ladies' College - has reported an increased interest since States members voted in favour of a two-school model.

Principal Robert O'Brien says it might too early to tell the true impact, and the school can only take so many students.

Rob England
BBC News Online

A breakdown at a tarmac plant has caused the Rouge Rue in St Peter Port to remain closed on Saturday, as planned works are delayed.

A Guernsey States spokesman said final tarmacking would not be completed today as a result of the malfunction.

It is now due to re-open on Sunday.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Three British Army medals for service in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan have been stolen from a car, say Guernsey Police.

Officers said the medals were taken from a white Nissan some time between 11 November and 9 January.

It is not known where the car was parked when they went missing.

The edge of each medal is inscribed with the Soldier's Army number, "25106110".

Police have asked any collectors or dealers in military memorabilia to check any similar items they may have in their possession.

Rob England
BBC News Online

A suggestion to lower the price of electricity in Sark to 45p per unit could cause Sark Electric Limited (SEL) not to generate any profit, the island's chamber of commerce has said.

The island's Electricity Commissioner, Anthony White, said 45p per unit was a "fair price" based on the current levels of demand and fuel prices, in a consultation released in December., external

Although he admitted this would not allow SEL to enjoy a "reasonable return", Mr White said the new price would "encourage an increase in demand", which could allow more profits in the future.

But Sark's Chamber of Commerce has voiced "grave concerns" over the recommendations.

In an open letter, the chamber said: "No private enterprise company can exist without making profit, and for an instrument of law to be used to impose such a condition is wrong."

The chamber also alleged the commissioner had stepped "outside his original mandate" to suggest that SEL should be investing in renewable energy whilst not making a profit.

"SEL cannot achieve any such goals either by borrowing or investing themselves if their hands are tied to a regulated price that will not allow them to make profit."

The BBC has approached the commissioner for comment.

More on this story:

• Law to control electricity prices in Sark passed
• Sark electricity prices 'should be lower'

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey's three private colleges have seen a "spike in interest" from parents since the States voted for a two-school model of secondary education last week.

Blanchelande College, Elizabeth College and The Ladies' College have had a higher number of inquiries than usual with people asking about the services they offer.

The colleges receive a grant from the States towards each student's tuition fees, which totals about £3.7m.

The Principal of The Ladies' College Ashley Clancy says the school has not seen more registrations, but interest has gone up.

"We have seen perhaps more [interest] in that two-three day period than we would normally expect, with people requesting prospectuses and requesting registration forms", she said.

Entrance exams for the schools will be sat in the next few weeks for entrance this September.

Sarah Scriven
News Editor, BBC Jersey

A Co-op butcher in Jersey who caught his hand in a meat mincing machine is recovering in hospital in the UK.

Health and safety officials are investigating the cause of the accident at the Co-op Grand Marche in St Helier.

Jose Escorcio, 29, known as Valdo, was working in a butchery preparation area behind the main counter, away from shoppers on 17 January, when he caught his hand in the mincer.

He was taken to Salisbury District Hospital, where he is currently recovering.

The Channel Islands Co-op's CEO Colin Macleod, who is leading the company's investigation into the accident, says he does not yet know how it happened.

He added Mr Escorcio would be facing "a lengthy process" to reconstruct his hand.

BBC Radio Guernsey

The inquest into the death of the child known as Baby A, who died in Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital in 2014, has been scheduled for 18 June in the Royal Court.

The child's death prompted a lengthy and comprehensive investigation into maternity services in Guernsey carried out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The findings of the investigation led to disciplinary action being taken against a number of midwives and significant changes within local health services.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Jersey boss Harvey Biljon makes 10 changes to his side for the visit of Richmond in the Championship.

Having rested many of his frontline players in the British and Irish Cup, the islanders have a more familiar feel as they aim to continue moving up the table.

There are six changes to the pack as Jake Woolmore, Nick Selway and Jake Armstrong return to the front row, while lock Jerry Sexton and back row duo Conor Joyce and Max Argyle all come in.

In the backs scrum-half Joel Dudley, centres Apakuki Ma'afu and Mark Best and winger Josh Hodson, all return as Brendan Cope and Scott van Breda move back to fly-half and full-back respectively.

Image source, Sue Armes

"We're looking forward to begin back into Championship rugby and a game in front of our home supporters," Biljon told BBC Radio Jersey.

"We've had a fair bit of disruption this week with illness and injury and bits and pieces, but come Saturday the squad will be ready."

Jersey: Van Breda (co-capt); Pincus, Ma'afu, Best, Hodson; Cope, Dudley; Woolmore (co-capt), Selway, Armstrong, Sexton, Voss, Bartle, Joyce, Argyle

Replacements: Macfarlane, Godfrey, Atalifo, Quarrie, Kolo'ofa'i, Hardy, Bryant

Jersey Evening Post

Condor has pulled out of talks to run a dedicated inter-island ferry service – blaming the States of both Jersey and Guernsey for being too slow in moving the project forward, external.

BBC Radio Jersey

The head of Jersey Water says he would support any initiative to set up free water refill points in the island to reduce the number of people buying new plastic bottles.

Yesterday, Water UK, which represents major water and wastewater service providers, announced a new scheme to work towards having a "national network" of free water refill stations across the UK.

The industry body says its scheme could cut disposable plastic bottle use by tens of millions a year.

Jersey Water CEO Helier Smith said a similar scheme could work in the island, and he will be meeting with Water UK to discuss the initiative.

He said reducing plastic waste was an issue everyone has to deal with.

Image source, Getty Images

Phillippa Guillou
BBC Radio Guernsey reporter

The artist behind a series of oil paintings of inspirational Guernsey women says she is not trying to make a political statement but instead celebrate women.

The set of canvases which have gone on display at the Greenhouse Gallery in Guernsey coincide with the centenary of the suffragette movement.

Olympia McEwan says the success of women in the island should be recognised.

The exhibition, Amazing Women - Yellow Chair Project, runs until 11 March.

Jersey Reds boss Harvey Biljon says making the knockout stages of British and Irish Cup has changed how the side will approach the rest of the season.

Twitter

Chris Stone
BBC Radio Jersey

Plans to build a farm house on green zone land in Trinity have been approved by Jersey's planning committee, despite recommendations made by the Department for the Environment.

Image source, Google

The department said the site on La Rue Guerdain would cause the loss of agricultural land, harm the landscape and did not deem the construction to be "essential".

But member of the committee approved the plans due to "overwhelming support" for the application from neighbours, the Jersey Farmers Union, Jersey Business and "parish representatives".

The applicants also had to prove they were "successful", with an income of more than £40,000 a year.

This comes as dairy farmers said they would "strongly resist" developments on green zone areas.

Guernsey Press

Reversing around a corner is being scrapped from the Guernsey driving test from April, external.

BBC Radio Jersey

The future is uncertain for the site of a residential home in Jersey which is due to close at the end of the month after it failed a fire safety inspection.

Last September the fire department conducted an inspection of St Helier House following the Grenfell Tower fire in London in which 71 people died.

It found the insulation within the cladding on St Helier House did not meet current safety standards.

After the details of the inspection were made public, authorities said the risk to the building's 44 residents had been "managed" and they would not "need to be moved" until 2019.

But the Constable of St Helier, Simon Crowcroft, said many families have taken the decision to move their relatives since the inspection report, and the home currently has four residents, three of whom have found other accommodation.

The constable says discussions on the future use of the building will begin at the end of the month once the building is empty.

He says it would be "entirely inappropriate" to start discussions while people were still living there.

More on this story:

• St Helier House: Redundancies as final residents leave

Rob England
BBC News Online

Police are appealing for witnesses after a motorcycle was seen riding on a Guernsey pavement.

It happened at Delancey Lane in St Sampson at about 08:05 on 15 January.