'Hypocrite!': Dominic Cummings heckled by neighbours amid rising fury at 260-mile lockdown trip

Boris Johnson refuses to sack chief adviser despite apparent flouting of social distancing rules

Dominic Cummings has been heckled by his own neighbours amid rising anger at his apparent flouting of lockdown rules during the height of the initial wave of the coronavirus.

Mr Cummings, Boris Johnson’s most senior adviser, was shown being subjected to angry questions by locals while returning to his North London home on Sunday, having spent the day at Downing Street successfully fighting to keep his job.

It follows revelations No 10’s chief strategist made a 270-mile trip to Durham in late March, just days after the government ordered a strict lockdown of the entire country.

Addressing the controversy at Sunday’s Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said Mr Cummings had travelled to seek childcare for his young son, and that he would remain in post.

Shortly after that press conference, video was shared to social media which shows Mr Cummings walking up to his house followed by photographers.

One woman is heard shouting: “My mum’s terrified, my dad’s had three shoulder operations, Stanmore [hospital] have left him without his shoulder, and she won’t even let him walk in the garden, won’t let him go to the pub, won’t let him sit on a bench.”

She later shouts: “Hypocrite!”

Neighbours are seen peering out of their windows to get a look, while a man standing just feet away from the passing Mr Cummings sticks both middle fingers up at the aide while his friend takes a photo.

A man is heard sarcastically asking, “Would you recommend Barnard Castle for a day out?” following allegations Mr Cummings was spotted in the Country Durham town in mid-April.