'Batkid' fighting crime in San Francisco

A 5-year-old boy grabbed the attention of San Francisco and then the White House as thousands of residents joined an elaborate effort to help the tiny leukemia patient play crime-fighting "Batkid" for a day.

With the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Miles Scott was rescuing a woman, capturing the evil Riddler during a bank robbery and stopping a kidnapping by another villain, the Penguin.

Miles thought he was in San Francisco only to get a Batman costume so he could dress like his favourite superhero.

Instead, he saw a broadcast in the morning with Police Chief Greg Suhr calling for his help.

"This has turned into a full blown phenomenon," Suhr said.

The San Francisco Chronicle planned to distribute special-edition newspapers with the headline, "Batkid Saves City".

The White House sent out a Tweet encouraging Batkid to "Go get 'em!"

The bashful Miles looked overwhelmed by the attention.

The boy's father, Nick Scott, thanked the estimated 7,000 people who were making his son's wish come true.

Miles was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 18-months-old, ended treatments in June and is in remission.

Make-A-Wish has fulfilled similar wishes across the US One child became Batman's sidekick, Robin; and another was a secret agent, said Jen Wilson, a spokeswoman for the local organisation.

"When you have an illness, it's very important to know you have a support system," said one onlooker, Gina Futrell, 51, who has multiple sclerosis. "I have an extremely strong support system, and I hope he does too. He's such a little hero."

- AP