Killer clown ‘armed with a knife’ chases little girl on her way to school as craze continues to sweep Britain

reports that Lucy wrote that her daughter was walking through Manor House Gardens in Hither Green, London on the way to school around 8.10am yesterday.

Posting on Facebook she  said: "My daughter was walking through there this morning on way to school, and there was a guy in a clown mask with a knife waving it around by the dog park."

Lucy added: "He then chased her and her friend to her school.

"My daughter is now frightened to go to school.

"Please keep your eyes peeled for these clowns and if you see anything then call the police."

It comes as a creepy Instagram account has promised 20 clowns with a "knife" will descend on schools this week as part of the "killer clown" craze sweeping the nation.

As many as 20 reports were made last week as terrifying clowns were spotted all over the country and they seem to be deliberately targeting schools and schoolchildren - prompting warnings from police.

Clowns_r_coming_to_essex, which is now private, declared schools in Essex would be targeted on Wednesday and encouraged people to propose other schools to visit.

The account was met with a mixture of amusement and outrage from people commenting on the posts.

It said the schools clowns would visit in the county are Bower Park School, Havering College, Sanders School and Marshalls Park School.

A post which included a picture of a clown and the Bower Park School sign said: "Next on Wednesday at 2:30 with 20 clowns with knife good luck."

All schools were contacted and a spokesman for Havering College said they were aware of the posts and had passed the information on to their security.

A spokeswoman for Marshalls Park School said: "The school is aware of this clown phenomenon that is sweeping the nation at the moment. We have been made aware of posts on social media."

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We are aware there is a suggestion on social media of clowns planning on visiting schools as part of this current craze.

"We would like to reiterate our previous message that people involved in this may commit offences under the Public Order Act 1986 and could find themselves being arrested.

"We would urge people to be considerate of the feelings of others, especially young children and the elderly.

"We also understand how this craze, which is becoming prominent on social media, is causing some people alarm and distress.

"Following this information relating to schools we will be liaising with them to provide reassurance. Anyone who has any information about any activity which is being planned is asked to contact police on 101."

The clown craze has swept the UK after a string of creepy incidents in the US, and masked people are continuing to terrify school children and adults alike.

The trend has been inspired by clown-related pranks in America, police have said, with it growing so quickly warnings have been issued.

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.

Tom Jackson, 18, a first year student at Leeds Beckett University was "very scared" when he saw a man dressed as a clown near an underpass in Leeds at 4.30am on Friday.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested in the Blakelaw area of the city on Tuesday following reports of someone dressed as a clown attempting to scare passers-by.

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.

This weekend Thames Valley Police were called to 14 reports of people being intimidated or frightened by others dressed as clowns, Gloucestershire Police had six reports 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.

This clown was seen heading south in Penistone Road, in the Hillsborough area of Sheffield.

It was seen, and captured on film, by staff at Martin Lee Car Sales.

It's unclear if the person is wearing a full clown outfit or if it was just a mask - which has a bald head and red tufts of hair.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Mel Sutherland, of Durham Police, said: "I would like to appeal directly to the people who are dressing up and carrying out these stupid acts to think seriously about what they are doing, the distress they are causing to young children is unnecessary and it needs to stop."

People on social media have also reported clown sightings in Cheshire, North Wales, Dundee, Norwich, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Last month, the chilling epidemic was rife in the USA, as witnesses reported spotting men in clown costumes trying to lure kids into the woods.

As authorities fear for the safety of children, multiple safety warnings have been issued by the US police.

The craze has now reached the UK with bizarre reports of clowns scaring adults and children.

Northumberland Police said they received six separate reports of clown sightings since last Friday.

Schoolchildren in Newcastle were terrified as people dressed as clowns and jumped out from bushes to scare them.

A Welsh town has also been subject to a terrifying reign of a clown with passing motorists and residents on alert.

One brave youngster filmed the creepy clown near a children's play area in Caernafarnon, and some people say they have seen the haunting sight in the town for the past two months.

A school in Essex was kept on lockdown after two clowns in a black van approached female students and invited them to party.

Clacton County High School kept its 1,600 students in over their lunch break on Wednesday over fears about the clowns striking again.

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.

Killer clown sightings

HERE are just some of the chilling UK clown sightings in the past week alone . . . 

CHESTER-LE-STREET, Co Durham: A knife-wielding clown pursued four young children, aged 11 and 12, on their way to school.

STRETFORD, Gtr Manchester: Children were left “petrified” by a driver motoring through the streets wearing a clown mask.

GLOUCESTER: Six reports were made of “pranksters” dressed as clowns wielding knives, following people or acting suspiciously.

ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, Gtr Manchester: A man dressed as a clown with an outfit including “a hockey mask and a blood-stained poncho” was captured on camera.

ELLESMERE PORT, Cheshire: Residents reported clowns roaming the streets. Two teenage girls were said to have been chased.

PLYMOUTH: A man posted a video online showing him being confronted at night in the town by a clown armed with a hammer. Meanwhile, multiple reports were received of people dressed as clowns, including one near a school bus. Another incident saw children chased through woodland.

BROTTON, North Yorks: A young girl reported seeing a figure wearing a clown mask and carrying a blade, while a woman and her daughter were followed by a clown while walking late at night.

SUDBURY, Suffolk: “Several people dressed as clowns” chased a boy “younger than a teenager”, according to police.

LIVERPOOL: A man dressed as a clown was seen driving a Ford Transit van through the city centre.

DUNDEE: Cops were called to Finlathen Park after eight youngsters in clown masks were spotted frightening motorists in the area.

SHEFFIELD: A clown was spotted driving around the Hillsborough area using a mobility scooter. Pictures circulated on social media.

PONTELAND, Northumberland: Pupils at Ponteland Middle School were confronted by a man dressed as a clown on the school grounds who chased them across playing fields.

CLACTON, Essex: Two young girls on their way to school were approached by a pair of male clowns in a black van who invited the girls to a birthday party. The girls fled in terror.

CAERNARFON, North Wales: Residents witnessed a clown lurking near a kids’ play centre late at night.

NEWCASTLE: A 13-year-old boy was given a police warning after allegedly dressing as a clown and scaring passers-by. Cops confiscated a knife.

NORTH SHIELDS, Tyne and Wear: Panicked pupils at Thomas More Academy were rushed inside after a figure in a white mask and red wig was seen approaching schoolchildren.

CRAWLEY, Sussex: A clown was pictured standing on a street corner in the night.

MANCHESTER: Two clowns were seen running from bushes and jumping onto cars outside a shopping centre on Sunday evening.

BRACKNELL, Berks: A clown was picture staring into a restaurant full of diners

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