People urged to ignore clowns after sightings in Norfolk
A spate of clown sightings in Norfolk has led to police urging members of the public to ignore the pranksters.
Norfolk Police received reports of three clown sightings over two days this week - one wore a "full outfit" with a red suit and red hair. In both cases, the callers reported being alarmed and then chased a short way up the road but no one had been assaulted or injured.
Superintendent Carl Edwards said: "Firstly I'd like to stress that it isn't against the law to dress up as a clown.
"Nobody has been assaulted and it appears that the people involved are waiting for a passer-by to be startled by their appearance and run away, and then the clown runs after them for a short distance."
"We appreciate this can worry people, especially the young or elderly. The most effective way to behave if you are to see someone dressed up is to give no reaction - because that's what they are after," he added.
These sightings in Norfolk follows recent reports of the circus characters scaring members of the public in Northampton.