Weekly round-up: Stories you may have missed

4 hours ago

News image — Storm Chandra brought more heavy rain and flooding just days after Storm Ingrid had hit the region

Jordan Langridge Drone shot of flooding in Axminster, Devon, caused by Storm Chandra — Storm Chandra brought more heavy rain and flooding just days after Storm Ingrid had hit the region

There has been flooding, heavy rain and disruption across Devon and Cornwall this week as two different named storms hit south-west England.

We have selected some stories from across the region you may have missed.

More rare octopus blooms in UK seas 'likely'

Cornwall Wildlife Trust/PA The photo shows a large octopus moving across the seafloor. Its arms stretch out in different directions, with the pale suckers clearly visible. The octopus has a smooth body with a mottled appearance that shifts between soft browns and light greens, blending with the underwater scenery. It appears to be gliding over seaweed and rocks in green‑tinted water. — Landings of common octopus by commercial fisheries in the region last year were almost 65 times higher than recent annual averages

Octopuses are increasingly making British waters their home, researchers have said after the population of the species surged in 2025.

A report by the Marine Biological Association (MBA) says warmer sea temperatures have contributed to the common octopus migrating from southern Europe to the South West England coastline.

Some in the fishing industry, however, have warned they are being negatively impacted by the octopus preying heavily on crabs, lobsters and scallops.

Special delivery to royal train caught on camera

Jack Boskett A picture of a railway staff worker wearing a black hat and black jacket. He is pictured in front of a green store which reads 'Bridgetown stores' — South Devon Railway said it was the first time the tradition had been documented on camera

A tradition of delivering the King's morning newspapers to the royal train has been captured on camera.

Royal photographer Jack Boskett, documented the delivery of the monarch's papers in Devon in December.

The images were taken when the train had an overnight stop on the Totnes to Buckfastleigh branch line, while King Charles III travelled to Devon for a passing-out parade at Britannia Royal Naval College.

Electric buses too big to serve some streets

Stagecoach A single-deck bus travels along a country road. Green bushes are on either side of the road. — The new electric buses are larger than the previous diesel vehicles

New electric buses will no longer be able to serve two streets in Devon because the vehicles are too big to squeeze through.

Changes in Torquay from 1 February are due to affect the 35A and 35C services, which will no longer serve Park Road and Hartop Road.

Bus operator Stagecoach said the service changes were "necessary" so its new buses could operate safely and reliably.

'Extremely rare' map to go on show after 400 years

South West Heritage Trust A hand-drawn Tudor map of Kingsbridge. The map shows two lines of houses, some have red roofs. A detailed drawing of a church is in the center of a map. A long building with arches is below the story. Long lines behind the houses maps out where gardens were. — A grant of more than £17,000 helped secure the historic document

An "extremely rare" Tudor map of a Devon town will go on display after more than 400 years in private hands.

The South West Heritage Trust said the hand-drawn 1586 map of Kingsbridge, which contains detailed depictions of key features of the town, including the parish church, would go on display at the Devon Heritage Centre in Exeter.

Friends of the Nations Libraries' chair Geordie Greig said: "Estate maps of the 16th Century are extremely rare, and this sort of view even rarer. This is an exceptional example."

'Boring career' motivated Scrabble champion to play

Diana Beasley is sitting at a table, looking at a Scrabble board. She is concentrating. The game is part way through. In front of her is her green plastic rack of tiles. — Diana Beasley said she intended to spend £200 she won in a recent competition on travel and accommodation for her next contest

A 92-year-old Scrabble champion credits her "boring career" with motivating her to find a rewarding hobby.

Diana Beasley, from Exeter, said work as a shorthand typist "was unfulfilling" and having "been slow at everything" she did, found it a struggle to keep up.

She channelled her energies into interests that she found "mentally stimulating", and found she "liked words" and "was good at spelling".

Nearly 50 years after starting the Exeter Scrabble Club, Diana still competes in national tournaments and is enjoying the glory of success.

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