After David witnesses a man getting thrown off a moving train, it leads to Steve foiling an armed robbery at Ashfordly Hall, but also leaves an escaped convict loose in Aidensfield. As the team pursue him, Ventress feels lost without the police force and is delighted when Merton comes up with a solution. Meanwhile, Vernon is stalked by a donkey, but later turns it to his advantage by opening up a donkey sanctuary, only to have his plans opposed when he discovers a sanctuary already exists in the village.

Merton isn't happy at the prospects of dozens of dangerous drivers when Aidensfield hosts a prestigious car hill-climb. The villagers aren't happy either, and when a saboteur begins causing chaos, the team face a race against time to identify the culprit and prevent a catastrophic disaster. Meanwhile, Bernie finds an old car in a cowshed and decides to renovate it, giving Vernon his chance to scoop the winnings in the car hill-climb event.