A SINISTER craze, whereby pranksters dress up as evil-looking clowns to scare passers-by, looks to have caught on in the UK.

A teenager has described how she feared for her life when someone dressed as a clown chased her down the road in Newcastle.

Megan Bell, a 17-year-old student with a 'life-long fear of clowns', said she was walking home at around 8pm on Tuesday when she was confronted by a male in a costume and mask.

"I panicked and just started to run in the opposite direction screaming and shouting. The 'clown' chased after me for about 20 seconds."

Schoolchildren across the city have been targeted by people dressed in the costumes, apparently inspired by a similar craze in the US.

None were attacked or physically harmed, but police investigating the incidents said one teenager had been arrested in possession of a "bladed article".

Speaking after the first incidents were reported on Tuesday, Northumbria Police Inspector Stephen Wykes said: "The people carrying out these pranks may think they're being funny but it is leaving a number of young people incredibly distressed.”

Essex Police were also called to an incident outside a high school. 

Two children were asked if they wanted to attend a birthday party by two people dressed as clowns.

No attempts were made to grab or harm the girls and after they rejected the offer, the clowns left the area in a black van.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said incidents had been reported in Runcorn and Ellesmere Port. 

He added: "We are aware of the current trend in America of people dressing up as clowns, which has reached the UK and received some publicity in the media.

"We have a received a very small number of reports relating to this phenomenon, here in Cheshire, and we’re also aware of rumours that are circulating on social media.

"While we appreciate Halloween is just a short time away, scaring people – especially children and vulnerable people – in this way is completely unacceptable and could constitute an offence.

"Anyone who sees any suspicious activity, or who has been intimated or upset by this behaviour, should call Cheshire police immediately on 101."

Merseyside Police have also said they have had no confirmed incidents but were aware of the issue.

Chief Superintendent Peter Costello said: “Merseyside Police wants to make it perfectly clear that behaviour of this type will not be treated as a joke or prank, doing this to a stranger may cause alarm or distress and could constitute a criminal offence such as harassment.

“We will not tolerate any kind of anti-social or criminal behaviour directed at any members of our communities."

Concerns over sightings of a clown in Pennington Flash in Leigh have also been eased after it was revealed it was a hoax. 

The incidents follow a number of reports of men in the US dressed as clowns trying to lure young children into woods, as well as brandishing knives and guns.

The @SpookyClowns Twitter account, which has 162,000 followers, has been sharing some of the creepiest videos and pictures from across America.

Clown Casually Walking Down The Street pic.twitter.com/RxNWlD0vPv

A 'security camera' recorded this creepy clip shared on October 3: 

Have you spotted any clowns in the area?

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