Schoolteacher Barry Jackson's wife Sophie is very ill and not capable of driving a car because of it. Nevertheless she takes the car one day and causes a bit of mayhem in Aidensfield. Soon afterwards Jackson receives threatening letters, and during a school concert somebody sets his house on fire killing Sophie. Malcolm Brown checks into the Aidensfield Arms with his daughter Vicki, but Gina suspects that that something is wrong with them. Apart from that there is an extra resident at the pub - a carrier pigeon, and Gina soon discovers it is very fast bird indeed and they challenge Greengrass to a pigeon race.

Ashfordly Hall opens its doors to the public with guided tours by Vernon Scripps. During one of the tours master art thief George Woodford sneaks away and hides in his lordship's wine cellar, where he makes himself comfortable until nightfall. Under the cover of darkness he then removes four valuable sketches by the famous English painter John Constable. Woodford is recognized on some press photos, but when the police want to question him, someone has beaten them to it, gagged the old man and knocks PPC Nicholson down. Of the sketches there is no trace. Not even in Woodford's hiding place. Somebody "accidentally" locks PPC Nicholson in one of the cells and then "forgets" all about it till next morning. A wise move because then he cannot make any mischief.

There is a police charity soccer match between Ashfordly and Richmond, but PC Bellamy has to appear in court the same day and may not make it back in time although he is the Ashfordly coach. Albert Hallows helps Gina to sell tickets for the match, but not out of his good heart or to help a pretty girl. He is the head of a gang of old timer robbers and he plans to hit on Aidensfield during the match. David has been called for jury duty in the same case as Bellamy is to appear in. The accused is a friend of one of Aunt Peggy's acquaintances and she tries to influence him to vote for an acquittal. Not an easy position when the other eleven jurors are in favour of conviction.

Sir Richard Lonsdale and his driver run a man on a scooter off the road without even stopping. The man returns the "favour" by vandalizing their car outside the Aidensfield. But the man does not stop at that. He even tries to blackmail Sir Richard, but the next morning he is found dead in his home. Murdered! David buys a used radio and by chance it also tunes in to the police channels. Aunt Peggy figures it is a good way to earn a little extra money if they listen to police radio and sell the stories to the local newspaper.

Jo Miller and her boyfriend Grag Parsons arrive in Aidensfield to organize a peace demonstration at an abandoned air base which the Americans plan to reopen. They team up with local troublemaker Pete Grimshaw. But the police has gotten wind of their plans and Division asks Sergeant Miller to keep an eye on the demonstrators. That does not go quietly. PC Walker is accused of beating up Greg Parsons and Jo is arrested to Sergeant Miller's displeasure, because she is his daughter! The new vet Fergus is on his way to the zoo with a cobra in a box. On his way he stops at Bernie's garage for some petrol and to ask Rosie out. When he returns to his Land Rover he discovers that the snake has escaped.