‘Clown-hunting’ groups of vigilantes are being set up to tackle craze sweeping the UK
A GROUP of people determined to reign in the clown craze which has swept the UK have decided to take matters into their own hands.
The Clown Hunters, as they have dubbed themselves on Facebook, are looking to recruit volunteers to patrol the streets.
The hunters are primarily based in Bristol, but with countless people becoming frustrated by the antics of people dressing up as clowns to scare others, more groups could soon be set up elsewhere.
The "killer clown" craze is an America inspired trend which has seen people on the streets of more than 20 UK towns and cities dressed as creepy circus characters.
The Clown Hunting group wants to station volunteers in places where sightings have been recorded, with the aim of deterring the clowns from returning.
The vigilant group wants anyone who spots a clown to make a citizens arrest and call the police.
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It posted: "We are a group of normal guys who have a mission to STOP these idiots dressed as clowns scaring people.
"We have divided our volunteers into groups to patrol these areas.
"Please feel free to join us."The group warned if the clown has a weapon to not approach them, and to capture their antics on camera if possible.
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The Avon and Somerset Constabulary slammed the clowns in a Facebook post.
A spokesman wrote: "We'd just like to remind people of the consequences of dressing up in costumes with the intention of frightening others.
"There have been several reports nationally of people dressed as clowns behaving in an anti-social and threatening manner.
"We've received a small number of similar reports locally and would like to remind people that this behaviour can cause concern and worry, particularly to young children and the elderly, and they may end up committing an offence.
"Whether those involved are doing it for a joke or not this is no laughing matter.
"These are stupid acts that are really frightening people and wasting our time. Please don't be tempted to do it. Think of the consequences."
Police have warned of the dangers of dressing like this to scare people, and have said it could lead to arrests.
Drivers in Manchester were startled to see two clowns running at their cars on Sunday, and a mum-of-two was left with terrified children after one jumped on her car.
A masked man carrying a knife left a group of children aged 11 and 12 "upset and distressed" when he jumped out on their way to the Hermitage Academy in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, at 8.40am on Friday.
While in Suffolk, a boy "younger than a teenager" was chased by "several people dressed as clowns" in Beatty Road, Sudbury, at 8pm on Thursday, Suffolk Constabulary confirmed.
A brave woman in Cornwall who said she was jumped on by two teenage "idiots" dressed as clowns in car park had the last laugh as her dog chased them off.
Aimee Gilbert posted on Facebook today about her encounter with the two clowns and she wasn't happy about it.
She changed her status on Facebook to 'feeling angry' and said the jokers were either 15 or 16 years old and were dressed in "clown masks, black hoodies and black trousers and trainers."
A group of friends who met for a meal in a restaurant in Bracknell, Berks, had a scare over the weekend as they noticed a creepy figure wearing a mask looking through the window.
Gloucestershire Police had six reports of clown sightings and South Wales Police attended numerous reports.
In Crawley, West Sussex, a clown with a hatchet was seen by a motorist in a park while another was seen on a street corner.
Another creepy clown was filmed walking along a Manchester street in broad daylight.
Graham Alan Lowndes-Buckley, who spotted the clown in Ashton-under-Lyne, saw the man wearing a hockey mask and a ‘blood’ covered poncho while travelling home from work on the bus at around 5.30pm.
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