Dominic Cummings sparks fury as viewers say they'll 'save a fortune' on new eye test

Viewers were left fuming by Dominic Cummings' admission that he drove 30 minutes away from his parents' home 'to test his eyesight' over concerns it had been affected by a suspected case of coronavirus.

Boris Johnson's top aide made the comment during a press conference in the garden of 10 Downing Street following days of media and public pressure to explain his actions.

Mr Cummings had driven 260 miles from his home in London to stay at his parent's estate in County Durham, stating he did so after his wife developed coronavirus symptoms and he feared his child could not be cared for if they both fell ill.

In the press conference, he said 15 days after he first displayed symptoms of the virus he decided to return to work, which would require a return journey to London.

"My wife was very worried, particularly as my eyesight seemed to have been affected by the disease," he said.

"She did not want to risk a nearly 300 mile drive with our child given how ill I had been.

"We agreed we should go for a short drive to see if I could drive safely. We drove for roughly half an hour and ended up on the outskirts of Barnard Castle town.

"We did not visit the castle, we did not walk around the town."

It angered many viewers who took to social media to question the decision, with one writing: "I'm sorry but if you want to test your eyesight you go to Specsavers, not on a 60 mile car journey that is not only breaking lockdown rules, but also endangering the lives of others."

Another said: "Sorry... he went for a DRIVE to TEST his eyesight."

A third commented: "When you take your *actual driving test*, they make you stand at a distance from other cars & ask you to read a number plate. If you can’t, they do not let you in the car. That’s the test you do to see if your eyes are ok, not a 30 min trip to the nearest castle."

One added: "Has anyone told Specsavers they'll be going bankrupt soon as we no longer need their services?"

Another joked: "Next time my eye test is due I’m just gonna go for a drive, will save me a fortune!"

Others also had suspicions as to the timing of the trip, with Labour MP Bill Esterson writing: "The Barnard Castle eye test drive was also on his wife’s birthday. So did they visit a beauty spot to check it was safe for him to drive or because they were celebrating her birthday?"

During the press conference, Mr Cummings also categorically said he does not regret making a 260 mile trip to Durham during the lockdown with his family - and dodged calls to apologise.

He said he had not considered resigning, arguing there were exceptional circumstances to justify the trip.