Dominic Cummings says 'I do not regret what I did' and refuses to apologise

Dominic Cummings has said he does not regret making a 260 mile trip to Durham during the lockdown with his family - and dodged calls to apologise.

The Downing Street aide - who faces intense pressure to quit - said his actions were "reasonable" during an unprecedented address this afternoon.

Cummings, who said he had not considered resigning, admitted it was "reasonable to say that other people would have behaved differently" - but said there were special circumstances to justify the trip.

He denied breaking the rules, saying: "I did what I thought was the right thing to do."

Speaking at a grilling in the garden at Downing Street, he said: "I don't think there's one rule for other people, as I said I knew what the guidance was, it talks about exceptional circumstances with small children and I believe I behaved reasonably and legally."

Mr Cummings admitted he drove from the Durham home to nearby Barnard Castle on Easter Sunday - claiming it was on Day 15 of his illness, in order to test his eyesight before going back to London.

“It was reasonable and sensible to make a short journey before embarking on a five hour drive”, he said.

"We walked about 10-15 metres from the car to the river bank nearby. We sat there for about 15 minutes - we had no interactions with anybody," he said.

Cummings has come under fire after the Mirror and the Guardian revealed that he had traveled 260 miles to Durham from London during lockdown with his wife and four-year-old son.

He said he had not consulted with the Prime Minister - who was ill at the time - before leaving.

He dismissed claims that he had done anything wrong - prompting a huge public backlash with critics saying there was one rule for the powerful and another for everyone else.

Doctors, scientists, police officers, bishops and politicians are among those calling for "arrogant" Cummings to quit.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended his most powerful aide, who helped him to power, saying yesterday that he had acted "responsibly and legally and with integrity".

After "extensive" face-to-face talks, the PM last night made a desperate attempt to save the Brexiteer svengali - who led the Vote Leave campaign and coined the phrase "take back control".

But Stephen Reicher, a scientific advisor to the government, warned people would stop following advice because "government is looking after themselves in a way they’re not looking after us".

Prof Reicher added: “If adherence falls, the infection will rise and people will die.”

The Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, also weighed in, saying: "Most who have worked so hard to abide by the rules and guidance of the past weeks will feel hurt, angry, & let down.

"Trust has been broken. For the nation’s sake rebuild it quickly."