'Knight on a shining bicycle': Boris Johnson saves film-maker from girl gang attack

Impressed: Franny Armstrong was rescued by Boris Johnson after being attacked by a group of hoodies

He promised to lead the fight back against crime to make the streets of London safer.

And it seems Boris Johnson is determined to lead by example.

The Mayor of London has saved a woman who was being attacked by a group of hoodies.



One of the gang was brandishing an iron bar, but that didn't stop Mr Johnson going to the aid of Franny Armstrong when he heard her cry for help.

Documentary film-maker Miss Armstrong was walking home in Camden on Monday night when she was surrounded by a group of young girls.

She was sending a text message and did not notice the girls until they pushed her 'quite hard' against a car. She said she feared they were about to mug her.

'I noticed that one had an iron bar in her hand - it was frightening,' she added.

She called out for help to a passing cyclist, who turned out to be Mr Johnson.



He approached the girls, shouting: 'What do you think you are doing?'.

The girls dropped the iron bar and ran off.



Mr Johnson picked up the iron bar and chased after them on his bike. According to Miss Armstrong, the outspoken mayor also branded them 'oiks'.

He returned to her a few minutes later and insisted on walking her home. 'He was my knight on a shining bicycle,' she said.

Miss Armstrong, a climate change activist who directed the film Age of Stupid about the threat of global warming, admitted she had voted for Ken Livingstone in the mayoral elections.

But she said: 'If you find yourself down a dark alleyway and in trouble I think Boris would be of more use than Ken.'



Yesterday the Mayor's office confirmed Mr Johnson's heroics, pointing out he had pledged to tackle crime in his electoral campaign.



Shortly after signing the declaration of office at City Hall in May last year, Mr Johnson outlined one of his key priorities was to make the streets of London safer.

He said at the time: 'This problem of kids growing up without boundaries and getting lost in tragic and self-destructive choices is the number one issue we face in this city.

'It's the job of me as mayor to lead the fight back against it.'

On taking office, Mr Johnson adopted a zero-tolerance policy against graffiti, fare- dodging and other minor crimes in the belief it will prevent more serious offending.

Unlikely hero: Boris Johnson chased after the gang on his bike



