Pranksters dressed as clowns scaring kids in Newcastle

Police in Newcastle are reporting a disturbing trend of children being frightened by people in scary clown costumes.

Officers working across the city have received six separate reports of people dressed as clowns jumping out of bushes to scare passing school children.

The first incident happened on Friday, September 30th, and there have been a number of further reports over the past few days that involve individuals chasing passers-by dressed in clown outfits.

Nobody has been attacked or injured during the pranks but it has left a number of young children incredibly distressed and police are taking the reports seriously.

Inspector Stephen Wykes, of Central Area Command, said: