Rogue Gang Of Clowns 'Ripping Off Children' in Somerset And Wiltshire

Festival organisers are warning the British public to be on the lookout for a gang of rogue clowns who are 'ripping off parents' with their overpriced balloons.

The so-called 'evil entertainers' are accused of creating sword-shaped balloons and charging parents anything between £2 and £5 for them, as well as money to have their photos taken with kids.

'These individuals joined the procession [last year] without our prior knowledge or agreement and sold balloons by giving them to children and then asking the parents for money,' said a spokesman for Melksham Carnival, set to take place again in Wiltshire this weekend.

Organisers and have released a picture of the two clowns at last year's event in a bid to ward them off.

'They do not give anything to us or to the town and they make a small fortune from you. If you see anyone selling balloons or anything apart from our official programmes then please do not give them your money,' a statement issued by the committee read.

One angry parent, Leigh Lennard-Walker, recalled how they had been targeted by the fraudster.

Sharing the appeal, he said: 'They gave a balloon to my two-year-old and when the women put her hand out and said 'five pounds', we told her to jog on.

'We had to prise the balloon from my boy, who really wanted it – poor little boy.'

Another parent, father Garry Brewer, said the same clowns also struck last year at carnivals in Frome, Somerset, and Devizes, Wiltshire.

'They give the sword balloon to your child, which you think is free. Then they hold out their hand for money,' he said. 'But the kids are gutted when you take it off them. That is a very clever tactic to earn money.'