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A police inspector has warned Nottinghamshire residents not to get caught up in the 'killer clown' craze after a woman was scared by a person in full clown costume jumping out on her in Toton.

The incident happened on Manor Field Open Space, off Carfield Avenue, on Thursday morning at around 8am. The woman ran off before calling the police.

Inspector Steven Wragg, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: "A female rang us to say that whilst walking in Toton in an open space, a clown had come out of some woods.

"The caller ran off and was quite clearly distressed and suffered a great deal of anxiety. The person in question was wearing yellow trousers, a white shirt with braces and had a full face of face paint made up as a clown."

"It is a solitary, isolated incident at the moment."

Insp Wragg said police would take any reports of this kind seriously, and confirmed patrols are taking place in the area to deter this from happening again.

"In essence someone had concealed their identity," he said. "This would be considered a criminal offence it if caused harrassment, alarm or distress. This conduct is a section five public order offence and they could be prosecuted.

"We have increased patrols in the area at that time, and are investigating and will hopefully catch the person who did it."

He also warned other residents not to be tempted to take part in the craze, which started in America but is now sweeping across the UK.

"My advice to people would be is it worth it?" he added. "I'm sure they may be doing it with the best of intentions but you have no idea who you are jumping out on.

"That person may have a heart condition and you could cause a heart attack, or to be blunt, death. Is it worth having a criminal record for what is supposed to be a joke?

"Also, if someone scares a person and they feel they may be subject to harm then they could act in self-defence, and you could end up in a worse state than the person you jumped out on."