'Angel of Woolwich' Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, who confronted Lee Rigby killers, is detained under Mental Health Act

Loyau-Kennett was praised for her bravery after she approached the killers of soldier Lee Rigby and engaged them in conversation until police arrived

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett was one of the people who confronted Rigby's attackers (GETTY IMAGES)

A woman who was dubbed the “Angel of Woolwich” and praised for her bravery after she confronted the killers of soldier Lee Rigby has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett was hailed as a national hero after she stood up to Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale until police arrived at the scene where the young fusilier was murdered in south east London last year.

However, it has emerged that she was detained on Monday after police were called in to an address in Helston, Cornwall, over "concerns for the welfare" of a woman.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: "On Monday June 30 following a report for a concern for welfare, a 49-year-old woman from Helston was detained under the Mental Health Act to the Royal Cornwall Hospital and released into the care of the NHS."

Police confirmed a Tesco employee was racially abused at a store last Friday and inquiries are ongoing, but there has been no official confirmation that Ms Loyau-Kennett was involved in the incident and no arrests have been made.

Video: Murder of Lee Rigby, one year on

A Tesco spokesperson added: "We are aware of an incident which took place at our Helston store on Friday. Colleagues at the store are helping the police with their inquiries."

On the first anniversary of the killing, Ms Loyau-Kennett spoke at the scene where she checked Fusilier Rigby's pulse and confronted Adebowale.

At the time she said: "It has been a waste of three lives and, of course, a year on I still think about Lee Rigby's mother losing a son. It's a tragedy.

"This street looks like a normal street now but I can still see the body, see the crashed car and see the bloodied hands."

Adebolajo and Adebowale butchered the young fusilier in broad daylight after concluding he was a soldier partly because he was wearing a Help for Heroes hooded top.