Come Clean On Your Two Trips North

Dominic Cummings was under huge pressure last night to explain TWO trips which defied lockdown rules that HE helped draw up.

- Pippa Crerar, Alan Selby And Jeremy Armstrong

Boris Johnson’s top aide was spotted with his wife in Houghall Woods in Durham a fortnight after the first sighting. He was first spotted in the city on April 5 while self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms.

A return to London saw him back at work on April 14. But by April 19 he was back in Durham. On the second visit, at the height of the pandemic, walkers saw Mr. Cummings at the beauty spot and say he remarked: “Aren’t the bluebells lovely?”

The revelations came yesterday as:

■ A YouGov poll showed 68 per cent of people think he broke the rules and 52 per cent think he should resign.

■ The PM came under pressure to sack him – but reiterated his support.

■ A tetchy Mr. Cummings clashed with press outside his home, insisting: “It’s not about what you guys think.”

■ The virus death toll across the UK rose by 282 to 36,675.

The Government was thrown into chaos yesterday after we revealed the chief-of-staff broke lockdown rules.

Downing Street said he needed his relatives to help with childcare after he and his wife Mary Wakefield fell ill.

But the claims were mired in confusion after it emerged the couple continued to look after their four-year-old son themselves in Durham.