Dominic Cummings visited Barnard Castle to see if he could drive safely

Boris Johnson's senior advisor made the second journey after driving 260 miles to Durham

Dominic Cummings went on a separate journey to a tourist hotspot after his 260-mile trip from London to Durham to check he was safe to drive back home again, he has told a press conference.

The Prime Minister's senior adviser made the revelation as he read out a statement in the rose garden of 10 Downing Street on Monday afternooon. It came following mounting pressure for him to resign after his lockdown journey.

During his statement, Mr Cummings said he had " no regrets" about travelling to his parents' estate with his sick wife and four-year-old son as he was concerned about a lack of childcare as well as threats made against him.

And he said that, after falling ill with Covid-19 symptoms during his stay in Durham, it was decided he should make a shorter journey to the Teeside market town of Barnard Castle with his wife and son to see if he could "test his eyes" and see if he was fit enough to make the long drive home.

But he denied visiting the castle itself or walking around the town and says he only got out of his car to walk to the river bank.

"We made the short drive to see if I could drive safely," he said. "We didn't visit the castle or walk around the town."

He said they parked by the river bank and walked to it after parking the car and had no interactions with anyone although an elderly gentleman walking nearby recognised him.

He said on the way back his son needed the toilet so they parked near woods and got out of the car briefly.

"We didn't break social distancing rules."

Mr Cummings said his decision to go to Durham was based not only on fears over a lack of childcare if he and his wife were both taken ill with Covid-19 but also concerns about his family's safety.

''I believe in all the circumstances I behaved reasonably and legally," he said.