A former business director has published his first novel after retiring.

Ian Jacombs, who worked in Exeter and lives in Sidmouth, has written his first paperback book under the pen name Victor Ralph.

The book, titled Alternative Ways, was published on October 3.

Mr Jacombs, who retired three years ago, said: "I have always enjoyed writing and Alternative Ways was two years in the making."

The book tells the story of a businessman who cannot resist the "lure of a beautiful woman" and spends money he does not have on gambling.

His greed for borrowed money to pay his debts becomes his downfall.

Mr Jacombs said: "There is tension in the boardroom, on the race course and excitement in hotel bedrooms."

The book is available to buy from Paragon Books, Winstones Bookshop, and other bookshops.

Mr Jacombs, who is now 80, was born in South London and has lived in Sidmouth for more than 20 years.

He has two adult sons and is a grandfather and great-grandfather.

He spent 25 years in food retailing with a major supermarket, starting as an assistant manager at Maypole Dairies.

He left at the age of 51 to set up as a management consultant specialising in human resources.

He moved from Surrey to the West Country and became a director of two businesses in Exeter before retiring three years ago.

He said: "Having retired to Sidmouth more than twenty years ago from Surrey after a career in food retailing, I have been pretty well occupied as a management consultant.

"I was also a director of two businesses based in Exeter.

"Stepping back from a working routine in my late seventies I decided to try my hand as an author.

"The novel progressed over a period of a couple of years and was finally published on October 3 this year."

He is now working on a sequel to his novel, called Vindictive Ways.