When a local farmer discovers his cow has been infected with foot and mouth disease, Aidensfield is put on red alert and the team must act fast to contain it. Meanwhile, Gina Ward, George's wayward Liverpudlian niece, is sent to Aidensfield to help him at the Aidensfield Arms while he is ill, and her bubbly personality and beauty soon sees her become a big hit with the male residents.

When the matriarch of a well-known criminal family tries to commit suicide, Nick and Kate take in her children. After recovering, she tells Nick that her husband is in prison for a crime he did not commit, and Nick offers to help her get closure by re-investigating the case. Blaketon is against it, especially when it becomes apparent that his predecessor was somehow connected and retired soon after. Meanwhile, PC Phil Bellamy is delighted when his girlfriend falls pregnant and proposes. On his stag night, he is assaulted outside the Aidensfield Arms. With Gina and Greengrass's help, he tries to track down his attacker.