James walks $40\text{ metres}$ in the West direction, turns left and walks another $30\text{ metres}$. How far and in which direction is he from his starting point?

Let's trace James' movement starting from the origin $O(0,0)$:
1. He walks $40\text{ m}$ West $\to$ reaches point $A(-40,0)$.
2. He turns left (which faces South) and walks $30\text{ m}$ $\to$ reaches final point $B(-40,-30)$.

To find the straight-line distance from the starting point $O$ to $B$, we form a right-angled triangle $OAB$ and apply Pythagoras' theorem:

$$OB=\sqrt{O{A}^2+A{B}^2}$$

$$OB=\sqrt{40^2+30^2}=\sqrt{1600+900}=\sqrt{2500}=50\text{ metres}$$

To find the direction of point $B$ relative to $O$:

* It lies in the direction between West and South, which is South-West.

Therefore, he is $50\text{ metres}$ South-West from his starting point.