A Hackney woman who confronted rioters has become a national heroine after a video of the 45-year-old telling looters to “stop burning the place” went viral on Youtube.

The kick-ass Hackney resident, revealed as grandmother Pauline Pearce, won the approval of the nation after someone filmed her taking on the London rioters.

Filmed in orange streetlight, silhouetted against a graffiti-marked wall, Pearce waves her stick, looking like something from the apocalypse.

Hackney woman confronts rioters

In no uncertain terms, the Hackney heroine tells looters to leave the shops alone, shouting:

"She's working hard to make her business work and you go and burn it up.

For what? Just to say that you're warring and you're a bad man?

"You lot piss me the fuck off. I'm ashamed to be a Hackney person.

"We're not all gathering together and fighting for a cause, we're running down Foot Locker.

“Dirty thief run off."

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rbkzVkXuMY:450:350]

There has been an outpouring of support for Pearce – nicknamed Lady P.

Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott, tweeted a link to the video, telling followers: "My kind of woman. Such guts."

Pearce’s identity was revealed last night and the Hackney resident spoke to The Sun, telling the paper that, since her 18-year-old son was stabbed two years ago, she has been a campaigner against violent crime.

"I was mad because I know how it was when I saved up to buy my first little banger and moped,” Pearce said.

"We are a poor borough anyway and they are burning each other's vehicles and motorbikes – that made me furious.

"There was a car that was burning right outside the shop with a flat above it. How did they know there wasn't a child inside?

"I shouted at them, if you don't want your faces on camera don't do it.

"There were people chucking missiles, but when I started speaking, they all stood and listened.”

Youtube has been inundated with positive comments about the Hackney hero.

“Brave lady – standing up for what she believes in while London burns around her,” said tubularpensioner.

“Somebody needed to tell them! I'm ashamed to be a teenager when people act like this! It's just pathetic,” agreed JoshSpivey11.