Emmerdale spoilers: Vanessa Woodfield fights for life after STABBING

After the surprise wedding party, Marlon and Jessie need to make their union official, but struggle to find a second witness after April refuses to attend.

They manage to drag a reluctant Jimmy into the church who, along with Paddy, make up two witnesses. But there's an unexpected guest in attendance...

Mandy Dingle has returned to the Dale. Glad to be relieved of his duties, Jimmy heads off, leaving Mandy to take his place as witness.

An uncomfortable Paddy looks on, as his phone buzzes with a message from Chas. Feeling the strain, she sets off to find him.

Chas turns up outside the church and confronts Mandy, with Jessie standing between them and Paddy hanging awkwardly back.

Soon an emotional Chas snaps and lunges at Mandy. The two later make up, when Mandy learns of Paddy and Chas's heartbreak over baby Grace, will she be able to explain why she's really returned?

Belle is unnerved when she receives a package of dead flowers in the post, convinced that Lachlan, her ex, is behind it. With Lachlan behind bars, the problem is getting anyone to believe her.

Meanwhile, Lydia receives a frantic phone call from Sam. Arriving at the farm, they find Sam upset and covered in blood – Gloria the pig has been killed.

Belle is furious and again ascertains that Lachlan is behind it. Demanding to see Lachlan, she heads to the prison, accompanied by Sam.

Lachlan's 'innocent' and 'reformed' charade fools Sam, but Belle is having none of it.

Later, we see Lachlan send a message on a smuggled phone, telling someone to 'up the ante' with their scheming. Charity tells Belle that Lachlan is going down, and Belle tries to believe it.

Outside the Woolpack a hooded figure approaches, carrying a cannister of petrol.

Arriving back at the pub, Vanessa spots the unnamed man tipping petrol round the bins. A fearless Vanessa goes to confront him . . .

. . . but is left fighting for her life when the stranger stabs her in the stomach. Doubled over, she watches helplessly as the stranger sets the bins alight.

Before she can react, the criminal makes a getaway – in Vanessa's car. With Johnny still strapped in the back, Vanessa is distraught.

When packages begin to turn up from Joe, Debbie heads to home farm to question Priya, who tells her Joe had set up deliveries for the holidays that she had forgotten to cancel.

Confused, Debbie decides to report Joe as a missing person. Later, Moira and Cain are worried to hear that Debbie has been to the police.

Fearing that the net is closing in on him, Cain worries for his future, while Graham downs a whiskey.

As it all becomes too much for Graham, he confides in Laurel about his alcoholism and she urges him to open up to Megan.

Meanwhile, Maya suggests that she should give Jacob private tuition, and David is thrilled with the idea, none the wiser to Maya's scheming.

Sparks fly between the two as Jacob congratulates Maya on her idea to spend time alone together.

Ryan is devastated when Dawn tells him they can't be together until she is clean. Eavesdropping on the conversation, Charity is pleased her plan to split them up has worked.

Matty has some great news to share with Faith – he's having a double mastectomy.

Liam has a plan for Bernice that might get them all out of trouble.