'Killer clown' with a knife is seen following children to school in County Durham

Police say a man dressed as a so-called 'killer clown' was carrying a knife as he followed four children to school.

The children aged 11 and 12 were on their way to the Hermitage Academy in Chester-Le-Street, County Durham, when the man jumped out on them.

Police say he was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, red shoes, a multi-coloured top and a mask, as well as having his face painted.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Mel Sutherland said: "The children arrived at school understandably upset and distressed by this incident and we are currently trying to locate this man.

"We believe this to be part of a much larger prank which is currently sweeping across the USA and parts of the UK.

"It is very alarming he was carrying a knife; however, we do not think he intended to harm the children, and as far as we are aware, this is part of the prank.

"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."

In a separate incident, police in Essex issued a warning after two people dressed as clowns approached two girls on their way to school.

They asked the girls if they wanted to attend a birthday party before driving off in a van.

And Suffolk police say a young boy was chased by several people dressed as clowns in Sudbury on Thursday evening.

The craze saw police in Northumbria arrest a teenage boy for possessing a "bladed article" while wearing a clown outfit.

There have also been incidents reported in Leeds, Edinburgh and Hampshire. One police force received six reports of "killer clowns" in just five days.

In September, police in the US state of Georgia received calls from anxious parents about clowns trying to talk to children and threatening to kidnap them.

There have been other incidents reported in a total of 24 US states, according to Time magazine.

The anti-clown feeling which followed prompted horror author Stephen King to air his view social media.

He famously featured a terrifying clown called Pennywise in his novel It, but does not think they are all bad.

"Hey, guys, time to cool the clown hysteria," he wrote on Twitter. "Most of em are good, cheer up the kiddies, make people laugh."

Back in the UK, passers by in Sheffield were alarmed to see a clown shoot past them on a mobility scooter.

The clown, who had a bald head, white complexion and sprouts of red hair, appeared to have balanced his walking frame on the back of the vehicle.