The male co-owners of a new restaurant in Ashfordly find their new business targeted with sabotage that causes them grief, but when Mike investigates he soon discovers a connection between the men and the recent arrival of Gina's friend to the area. Greengrass decides to go searching for a fortune in Anglo-Saxon relics from a local man's land, but soon worries that he has uncovered a murder. Maggie makes a decision regarding the future for her unborn child.

When an attempt to remedy vandalism and petty theft at a farm is seen as interference, Gina sends Susie to match the old farmer's feisty spirit. The activity escalates to arson, and Steve suspects a deeper motive behind the crimes. Meanwhile, David is arrested while protesting at the high number of lorries passing through the village to Jim Pinder's quarry, while Vernon is viewed as a traitor for chauffeuring Pinder. Just before he joined the cast of EastEnders, Berry fractured his skull in a car crash but went on to make a full recovery. [2]A gang of ageing villains attempt a glorious crime spree when the villagers leave Aidensfield en masse to support Rob in a charity football match. David is nervous when summoned for jury service; the accused is an old acquaintance of Peggy's, providing her with an opportunity to make money and leaving David paranoid that Miller wants him arrested. An aspiring ballerina collapses and expresses a fear of being taken away, leading Joe and Carol to assume that her demanding elderly guardian is connected. Meanwhile, David is hired to write an advice column for the Ashfordly Gazette, displeasing Peggy who wanted the job. Younger struggles with his feelings for a local shopkeeper's daughter, due to embarrassing bouts of sneezing when he tries to speak to her. Lord Ashfordly goes on holiday to Bermuda over Christmas, leaving Ashfordly Hall under the watch of an old army pal. He harbours a young hooligan who attempts to steal valuables, and the man tries to impart a valuable life lesson in a violent way. Meanwhile, Blaketon and Peggy create competing Santa's Grottos. Ventress is upset when his wife falls ill, and Gina, Helen, David and Bellamy draw lots on who gets to host him for Christmas dinner. Lord Ashfordly faces protests from villagers in Aidensfield over his decision to close off a footpath on his land, but Mike has suspicions that the protest's organisers may be linked to a recent arrival who served time in prison for a robbery, of which the stolen money they took has yet to be found. Greengrass decides to become a chimney sweep after discovering it has a lucrative side business attached to it, but he soon makes a mess of things.

An ageing jazz band travel to Aidensfield to perform at a Christmas concert, and find themselves left with a newborn baby after giving a ride to a teenage hitchhiker. Rob must bring two estranged families together for Christmas. Meanwhile, Gina takes centre stage at the concert with her rendition of " Winter Wonderland", whilst a mix-up leaves both Blaketon and David taking on the role of Father Christmas. Jenny is delighted when her younger brother Steve visits, and offers to help him secure a job. She soon finds her excitement turn to despair when a local vicar that employs him turns out to be growing something unwelcome in his greenhouse, threatening her relationship with Sgt. Merton. Meanwhile, David finds himself being recruited by a gang of mods who have begun causing trouble in Aidensfield. Armed robbers hold up a train, and Joe interferes with a CID investigation led by an old adversary. The constabulary are exasperated with him, but Joe finds an ally in Dawson who discovers trouble within the CID. Meanwhile, Peggy receives an inheritance from a distant relative of her late husband. Merton and Jenny's honeymoon is cut short when Jenny becomes ill. Merton finds Ventress has let standards slip in his absence, incurring the wrath of an inspector whose car is stolen. The team hurry to recover the vehicle and the station's reputation, when a crooked travel agent takes advantage of absent holiday-makers. While organising a Bentley rally at Ashfordly Hall, Vernon is persuaded to invest all his money through Lloyd's of London insuring the ill-fated Torrey Canyon, and he is financially ruined. Gina is displeased at the prospect of giving up the pub licence to marry Bellamy. PC Mason and Sgt. Miller attempt an intervention to stop the harassment of a local farmer by his neighbours. However, the situation worsens when the farmer is given further trouble that culminates in a fire on their property that nearly kills them. At the same time, Dawn falls for a charming new barman at the pub and tries to cure him of his sudden angry outbursts, unaware he has an ulterior motive for being the area. Meanwhile, David helps Peggy inventory an estate, but fears her shady dealings have upset the spirit of the deceased.PC Bradley has his hands full at Christmas trying to find a dog that had been taken from a blind woman, and soon discovers the culprit is emotionally attached to the animal. Dr. Summerbee is delighted to meet an old friend, but soon calls on Bradley's help when she suspects her friend is in serious trouble. Meanwhile, Vernon promises to supply a tree for the villagers, but things don't go according to plan when David has a mishap with the Christmas lights for them.