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An inspirational great-grandmother from Hackney has scooped a national award for her role in turning around the estate she lives in.

Vice-Chair of Hackney Homes Board, Alice Burke, 78, won the 2015 Local Hero, Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award and was surprised with the news on Friday 25 September, live on air by Good Morning Britain’s Ben Shepherd.

The awards celebrate people throughout the UK who have been nominated by the public for the extraordinary things they have done to make a difference to the lives of others.

Alice is described by friends and colleagues as a “leading light in the regeneration of the Nightingale Estate”. She works tirelessly for her community and is always on hand to help others.

Former auxiliary nurse, Alice, and her husband Owen, moved on to the Clapton estate in 1975 to raise their three daughters.

In the 1980s and 1990s Nightingale Estate was beset by anti-social behaviour problems. She was determined to make a change and set up the Nightingale Tenants’ and Residents’ Association in 1993, encouraging others to develop their community spirit .

Alice has been instrumental in turning the estate around and has helped to oversee a raft of improvements including the building of new accommodation with open spaces and better street lighting. Throughout the regeneration of the estate Alice has been a vital link between officers and residents ensuring that their views are taken into account.

Alice said: “It was very important for me to make the estate safe. I wanted somewhere where my children were safe and happy.

“A lot of the kids I used to chase were doing things they weren’t supposed to. I see those boys and girls now. You hear them say to their kids, ‘this lady used to kick our backsides. If you see her, don’t you dare be rude’.”