A good old Routemaster London bus was slightly off route when it motored into Ashburton on an artistic mission.

Its job was to conduct parish sketchers with their notebooks and pens to outlying scenes worthy of their recording skills.

More than 60 townspeople of all ages clambered on to the vintage vehicle which took them to the steam railway stations at Staverton and Buckfastleigh.

The excursion organised by the Ashburton Festival Committee was deemed a masterpiece of pleasure.

Engines, parts of engines and hidden corners of the stations captured the imaginations of the sharp-eyed scrutineers.

A trip spokesman said: ‘The South Devon Railway staff were on hand to help –and a thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all.’