Barry Dixon, an armed robber who Blaketon sent to prison 10 years previously, comes to live in Aidensfield after being released. The mysterious Ed Baxter has been hired to watch his every move, determined to find the fortune that Barry stole from an insurance company years previously. But Dixon is supposedly a reformed character and gets himself a job at Bernie Scripps garage. On the other side of Aidensfield, Neil and Maggie lead a protest against Lord Ashfordly after he closes the footpath to his estate, leaving the Ashfordly police with their hands full. Meanwhile, Greengrass takes over the late Jim Fielder's chimney sweep business. But he soon hits upon a new scheme that could bring in a lot of money - conning soon-to-be married couples into hiring him as a "lucky" wedding guest.

As Aidensfield recovers from the fire that took Neil's life, Maggie takes her mind off her grief by returning to work. After speaking to an elderly patient, she discovers a local man is holding his pregnant daughter Julie against her will. When Maggie and Mike free her, Julie gives birth to a premature baby with severe breathing problems. With a fractured family looking to her for help, Maggie must also make the tough decision of whether she wants to keep her own unborn baby. Meanwhile, Ventress discovers a police impostor is causing havoc around Aidensfield using his name. Determined to catch the crook who is destroying his reputation, Ventress recruits Bellamy to set up a honey-trap. When he gets to the truth, Ventress is forced to confront a past misdemeanour. Elsewhere, Greengrass fuels Blaketon's suspicions when he enters a shady alliance with local lowlife George Seago. However, Blaketon soon spots a way to have a bit of fun when he discovers what Greengrass and Seago are up to.