Clown craze comes to the North East - kids left 'incredibly distressed'
Northumbria Police have had SIX separate reports of people dressed as clowns jumping out of bushes and scaring school children.
Children in our region have been left distressed after people dressed as clowns have been jumping out and frightening school children.
Northumbria Police have received six separate reports since Friday of clowns chasing passer-bys as a prank.
They say no one has been attacked or injured during these incidents but a number of children have been left incredibly distressed and reports are being taken seriously.
Inspector Stephen Wykes, of Central Area Command, said: "The people carrying out these pranks may think they're being funny but it is leaving a number of young people incredibly distressed. "Parents of the children affected, and teachers at our local schools, are understandbly concerned and we are working very closely with them as this is not something we want to see happening in our local community. "There has only been a handful of these incidents, which we think have been inspired by a trend in America, but we are keen to stop them before they cause anyone else further distress. "We are keen to identify those people who are dressing up as clowns so we can speak to them about their conduct and establish whether any criminal offence has taken place." Anyone with any information about the pranks, or anyone who knows who is involved, should contact police on 101 quoting reference 1083 04/10/16.