Episode 231

Andrea's friends take Erica hostage, blindfolding her and bundling her into a delivery van. Linda rings Ted Douglas from a call box and announces that they are holding Erica hostage until Andrea is released. Erica is taken to a house on the coast, and soon sees her chance to get hold of the revolver lying on the table, but she soon finds out that it is a fake when she threatens her captors with it. Joyce tells Jim that Bea and the other prisoners want the day centre project to continue. Doreen tries to get hold of an inhaler from a chemist's, but gets cold feet and runs off when the assistant phones to check the false address she supplies. Ted Douglas informs Jim of the kidnapping, and Jim is very indignant when learns that the whole matter has been turned to the police. The kidnappers decide to send a lock of Erica's hair to a TV station. Doreen and Peter take Martin to hospital, but leave him there and run away. Sgt. Ross asks Jim for information on Andrea. Doreen and Peter comfort each other. Linda threatens to cut off one of Erica's fingers, and forces her to change clothes. Bea notices that Andrea is very keen to see the newspaper and is convinced that she is planning another escape. Meg tells Lizzie that Peter is not wanted by the police, so Lizzie passes on what she knows of Doreen's hideout. Meg finds the boathouse while Peter is away looking for food, and Doreen comes out of hiding when she hears that Peter has not been implicated in the robbery. Doreen still believes still that Meg lagged to the police, but Meg explains her everything, and lets her wait for Peter to come back. Lizzie has pangs of conscience because she has "lagged" to Meg. Erica manages to get hold of a pair of scissors. The prisoners learn about the kidnapping from an unconfiscated radio. Bea decides to give Andrea a taste of her own medicine, and Judy and Bea "kidnap" Andrea and barricade themselves into a cell. Doreen doesn't tell Peter that she's seen Meg but tries to persuade Peter th