Downing Street says that he drove from London to County Durham, where there was family to help with child care if he also became unwell.

On that, it was in line with locked down guidelines.

Mr Cummings was unapologetic, saying he'd done the right thing and had behaved reasonably and legally.

Cabinet ministers have indicated their support for Mr Cummings on the transport secretary, Grant Shapps said he had the full support off the prime minister.

It comes as 282 more deaths were announced in the past 24 hours.

It brings the total deaths in the UK to 36,675.

Here's our political correspondent Ian Watson, supposed to be more than two minutes apart.

Boris Johnson senior advisor Dominic Cummings, lecturing quarters one social distancing, but his opponents accuse him of breaking the lock down rules himself.

When his wife became ill at the end of March, he g under four year old child fill itself isolate at their London home but traveled more than 250 miles to county Durham.

The government's guidance of self isolation says If you live with others under the first in the house or toe have symptoms of Corona virus, then you must stay at home for at least seven days.

But all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.

But in a statement, Downing Street set out to explain why Boris Johnson's adviser didn't stay at home.

It was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for.

It says his sister nieces had volunteered to help, so he went to a house near to but separate from his extended family in case their help was needed, It's added his actions were in line with Corona virus guidelines.

Mr Cummings believes he behaved reasonably on legally.

Durham, police said, were made aware that Dominic Cummings was in the city on March the 31st and the next day a police officer spoke to his father at his father's request.

He conferring that Dominic Cummings and his family had traveled from London on were self isolating it part of the property the priest deemed no further action was necessary, but did provide some advice on security issues.

Welcome to do so.

Where does this leave the government?

State home guidance Now is the advice.

No appearance that if you don't have your own extended family nearby, even when you're ill with Corbett symptoms, you are allowed to leave your home, travel many miles across the country and isolate closer to your extended family.

Look, the important thing is that everyone remains in in the same place whilst there whilst they're locked down.

Which is Zach.

What happened in the think the case you're referring to with Mr Coming So the prime Minister will have known he was staying put and he didn't come out again until he was feeling better.

Yeah, but he did travel 250 miles from his London home.

Did you not in the guidance says if you're living with Children, keep following this advice, the vestibule ability.

However, however, we are aware that not all these measures will be possible depending therefore on circumstances.

I'm adding their philosophy words.

Senior ministers have rallied around to defend Dominic Cummings, but there have been calls for his resignation from some of his opponents.

Dominic Cummings should have done the right thing.

It should have resigned, but know that he hasn't bought us Johnson Marshall leadership, but he must remove him from office immediately.

You know, we've had a lot of people who have Bean struggling throughout this pandemic and sticking by the rules.

We've got care workers moving into care homes, hospital stuff in in stay in and hotels and the struggle for not seeing their family.

They adhered by the rules, and he's broken them, and it's just so irresponsible.

But tonight, new allegations down in strict, denied reports that Dominic Cummings had returned to Durham from London last month after he'd recovered while in The Observer.

There's a claim that Dominic Cummings was seen at a beauty spot about 30 miles from Durham who was a part they self isolating in is here with me now in lots of outstanding questions tonight for Mr Coming Ever labor.

Trying to no 0.2 meter toe apparent inconsistency.

A Downing Street statement saying Don't coming stayed in a property separate from his parents, but nearby in the Durham area.

The priests of the new statement tonight saying that he was self isolating in part off his father's property.

They're also calling for the top civil servant of the country to launch an investigation.

And I think it's quite easy to see this is a bit of a Westminster bubble story, a bubble that Downing Street hoping will bust sooner or later with allegations and counter allegations between government officials.

I think the biggest story here is really the credibility of the government's own guidance, because today, Cabinet minister said that that Gaitan's could be interpreted so flexibly that it's perfectly acceptable for someone who is ill with covered symptoms, to travel the length of England during the lock down that the Cabinet meeting return on one day they're going discussing further ways of using the lock down.

That can only do that if they can keep the virus under control and it could be much more difficult to keep it under control.