Two south Essex MPs have called for top Government aide Dominic Cummings to resign amid outrage over his 260-mile trip from London to Durham.

Stephen Metcalfe, Tory MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has written to his constituents and has urged the Prime Minister’s chief aide to step down.

It comes as Jackie Doyle-Price, Tory MP for Thurrock, slammed the Government for the “embarrassing” episode.

Mr Cummings has been accused of flouting the Government’s own lockdown rules, after he travelled to his parents’ home in Durham in March, as the country had been instructed to go into lockdown.

He was asked by Boris Johnson to address the media on Sunday afternoon, with the PM publicly backing his adviser.

Mr Cummings also admitted to driving to Barnard Castle, approximately 30 miles from his parents’ estate, but told the media he was “testing his eyesight” before driving back to London from the North East.

In Mr Metcalfe’s letter to residents, he said: “To restore faith in the rules and to allow us to move on and prepare for the next stage in lifting lockdown, Mr Cummings should consider his position and resign.”

The MP also thanked residents for “sharing their views” on Mr Cummings’ position, which was echoed by Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West.

Sir David issued a statement on social media over the weekend, saying: “I have been contacted by a number of constituents following the press conference at which the Prime Minister faced questions about his special adviser, I will be responding to all those who have contacted me as soon as practically possible.

“I have conveyed my own concerns over the present situation to the whips and will await events.”

Dominic Cummings faced fierce questioning from journalists in his briefing, a first for any adviser to previous Prime Ministers, with Boris Johnson dismissing further questions on his adviser at the regular Covid-19 briefing on Sunday, to focus on new rules and regulations, a line followed by James Duddridge, Tory MP for Southend East and Rochford.

Mr Duddridge said: “My focus continues to be on dealing with Covid-19 issues as a Member of Parliament and as a Government minister, ensuring constituents have access to the right support and advice they need to help them through this pandemic.”

Jackie Doyle-Price, Tory MP for Thurrock, added: “To bring this sorry chapter to an end I am afraid Mr Cummings has to go.

“The Government has endorsed behaviour which is clearly not consistent with what the Government expects each of us as citizens to do.”

Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, declined to comment, with John Baron and Rebecca Harris failing to respond to requests.