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STOP CLOWNING AROUND

‘Killer’ clowns ‘leaving kids terrified by lurking outside schools’

FEARS of a "killer clown" comeback are on the rise after pranksters scared kids by lurking near schools this week.

Clowns were spotted in Kent and Cornwall terrifying children and jumping out at moving cars.

 The 'killer clown' craze swept the globe last year ahead of Halloween and there are fears it will return
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The 'killer clown' craze swept the globe last year ahead of Halloween and there are fears it will returnCredit: AFP or licensors

Parents of pupils at Thamesview School in Gravesend said they saw clowns, while another school nearby also reported pranksters.

Matthew Clark, headteacher at Tymberwood Academy, said the school was taking it seriously and wrote on Facebook: "We want to make you aware of an incident at lunchtime today.

“Some of our pupils, playing on the lower part of the KS2 playground, may have witnessed some older local children, wearing Halloween clown masks, running along the alleyway and acting inappropriately.”

Shoppers and cars were targeted in Canterbury and multiple people reported a masked person chasing people in Liskeard, Cornwall.

 The craze involved people donning scary clown costumes and deliberately trying to frighten others
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The craze involved people donning scary clown costumes and deliberately trying to frighten othersCredit: Getty - Contributor
Killer clowns return as It film sparks creepy craze in US

Witnesses said they saw a man in a clown mask chasing cars down the road and shouting at people, as one woman said the man scared her six-year-old child.

These sightings have prompted fears the craze which swept the globe this time last year could be coming back.

People all over the world donned masks and were known as "killer clowns" as they scared others through pranks.

Last year Thames Valley Police were called to 14 reports of people being intimidated or frightened by people dressed as clowns over the course of two days.

Some of those who dressed up ended up in court as the craze escalated and saw people attacked and severely frightened.

The disturbing craze returned in September 2017 when a spooky jester was reportedly jumping out on people in an Essex park.

Advice from police in the UK about what to do if you encounter a clown is to remain calm and call the authorities.



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