'Superhero' cops save birthday party

Daniel couldn't believe it when he saw a line of police cars coming down the street. Photo / Facebook / North Port Police Department

Birthday parties had never gone well for 8-year-old Daniel.

The last two years, he had sent out invitations in his home town in Florida, US, only to have nobody show up.

His mother, Carolyn Nicastro, believed that because her son has autism, other children found Daniel difficult to relate to.

"They don't know what to make of it," she told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "They back away, and he ends up being by himself."

This year, as the birthday date drew closer and they had not received any rsvp's, Daniel's parents started to fear it would be another birthday that ended in tears.

We could all use a happy story right about now. Got this nice photo and note today. Glad we could assist. "It was my...

Posted by North Port Police Department on Monday, 13 June 2016

So the family decided to invite the local cops, whom Daniel always referred to as "superheroes".

Although they didn't expect any of the police officers to turn up, a group of seven from the North Port Police Department came along to the party, and they even brought gifts.

The officers posted a picture of Daniel's special day on Facebook, and the snap has since been shared almost 2000 times.

Below the image, the kindhearted cops shared a thank you note from Daniel's mum.

"He saw a large line of police cars coming down the road," wrote Carolyn Nicastro. "He was so excited! His favorite friends came to his party. He is still talking about it being the best birthday ever!

-nzherald.co.nz