Is it Christchurch or Gotham City?

With the White Lights of Hope swirling in the skies above earthquake-hit Christchurch, a man wearing a Batman costume – complete with mask, cape and tights – marched into the central police station late on Sunday night.

"First of all he wanted to speak to the commissioner," said Sergeant Chris Jones, who was just starting his shift when the "caped crusader" appeared.

"And then he wanted to know what was going on and why he'd been called, because he'd seen the lights in the sky."

The lights have been beaming out from within the cordoned central city since the first anniversary of last Septem-ber's quake as a symbol of hope for long-suffering residents.

Internet chatter quickly latched on to the similarity to the Bat-Signal – the emblem flashed in the skies above Gotham City to summon comic-book character Batman, usually at the behest of police commissioner Gordon. Jones was not impressed by Sunday night's masked prankster, who was filmed by a friend.

"He was actually rather a scrawny Batman, I'd have to say," Jones said.

"If he was going to look for a sidekick for a Robin, he'd have to be probably about 6 foot 4 and built like a tank to help him out."

After a brief exchange with police watchhouse staff, the costumed prankster, aged in his early 20s, made his exit – presumably to the Batmobile.

Jones said "Batman" was treated with the utmost respect, adding: "Contrary to popular belief, the police still have a sense of humour."