Who are Dominic Cummings’ parents and where do they live?
DOMINIC Cummings, Boris Johnson's most senior adviser, faced calls to resign from Tory MPs after travelling 260 miles from London to Durham amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Mr Cummings said he was staying at his parents' farm in the north east of England in order to get help with childcare - but who are the senior aide's family and where do they live?
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Who are Dominic Cummings' parents?
Dominic's father, Robert Cummings, worked as an oil rig project manager and built oil rigs for the British construction firm, Laing.
He also ran a canoe paddle factory and now works on the family farm.
His mother, Morag, worked as a special needs teacher and a behavioural specialist.
Sir John Grant McKenzie Laws, a former Lord Justice of Appeal who died on April 5, was Dominic Cummings' uncle.
Mr Cummings confirmed his uncle had died from coronavirus but said this did not affect his decision to travel.
Where do Dominic Cummings' parents live?
The couple, now in their seventies, live on a family farm in Durham.
Police made contact with the owners of the address after the Durham Constabulary were "made aware of reports that an individual had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city".
The force said: "Officers made contact with the owners of that address who confirmed that the individual in question was present and was self-isolating in part of the house.
"In line with national policing guidance, officers explained to the family the arrangements around self-isolation guidelines and reiterated the appropriate advice around essential travel."
In an updated statement from Durham Police on May 25, the police said they gave Mr Cummings' family "no specific advice on coronavirus".
A Durham Constabulary spokesperson said: "We can confirm that on April 1, an officer from Durham Constabulary spoke to the father of Dominic Cummings.
It is a 260 mile trip between the homes.
However, the couple said they needed childcare help and they stayed in a separate building at the property.
While in Durham, Cummings said that he made two other trips outside of his family farm which included a trip to the hospital on April 2 and a trip to Barnard Castle on April 12.
According to the senior aide, he had driven to the tourist destination to test his eyesight after it had deteriorated from his illness from the previous two weeks.
Cummings said he did not tell the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, before going to Durham and denied taking other trips to Durham, saying he had only travelled to his parents' farm once.
In an official statement from Downing Street, the Prime Minister gave his backing to the aide.
A No10 spokesperson said: "Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for.
"His sister and 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.
"His sister shopped for the family and left everything outside. His actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines.
"Mr Cummings believes he behaved reasonably and legally.";
The revelation comes despite No10 telling Brits they must stay at home and not see family to slow the spread of Covid-19.
The move allegedly went against advice, which became law on March 26, which stated that people should only leave their home for four reasons.
Only in exceptional circumstances were people allowed to attend relatives' addresses, for example, to drop off food or medicine to their door.
Tory MPs are said to be privately angry, but a close friend of Mr Cummings said: "He isn't remotely bothered by this story...
"...There is zero chance of him resigning."
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson issued a fiery defence of the Prime Minister's top aide saying .
Despite a growing backlash from Tory MPs, Mr Williamson insisted the controversial Vote Leave organiser had done nothing wrong.
On May 25 he told Sky News: “The guidance is incredibly extensive and at the heart of that guidance is always the issue of safeguarding children and making sure that children are always absolutely protected.
"My understanding is from what the Prime Minister said yesterday is that at every stage Dominic Cummings followed and his family followed the guidance and at no stage did Dominic Cummings or his family break the law."