News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

British schoolchildren are being terrorised by cruel pranksters who are dressing up as clowns and jumping out from behind bushes as part of a bizarre craze that started in the US.

Police are trying to identify those responsible for the menacing stunts - thought to be inspired by the incidents in America - and have warned against copycats after children across Newcastle were left "incredibly distressed".

Northumbria Police said they have received six separate reports since Friday, leaving parents and teachers very concerned.

No one had been attacked in those incidents, but there have been further reports of clowns chasing people down the street.

The craze started in the US this summer and has been fuelled by social media and online videos, with more than a dozen people being arrested for silly stunts or threats.

(Image: Middlesboro police department)

Northumbria Police Inspector Stephen Wykes 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 understandably 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 information is asked to contact the police on 101.

The hoax craze in the US took off in August after police in the state of South Carolina received a number of reports that people dressed as clowns were trying to lure children .

Since then there have been reports across the country and elsewhere in the world of creepy clowns leaping out of bushes to scare passers-by, lurking in parks or woodland , or even chasing people.

The sinister trend has carried over onto social media, with a number of reports of people setting up Twitter or Facebook accounts as clowns and making threats to attack schools.