A ‘killer clown’ craze has gripped the community and is terrifying people.

There has been a spate of pranks over the weekend involving people dressed as clowns intimidating young children and other members of the public, with sightnings reported in Stevenage, Letchworth and Baldock.

The terrifying craze has come over from America and is now rife across Britain. Some clowns have been spotted carrying knives and other weapons.

Facebook pages such as ‘Clown sightings in Hertfordshire’ have been set up to warn people, with one post reading: “Clown spotted in Stevenage town centre, seen on top of multi-storey car park. Stay well away - tags death threat notes to balloons and drops them off multi-storey.”

A 15-year-old boy is said to have been taken to Lister Hospital in Stevenage after he injured his ankle running away from a clown who was chasing him on Saturday night.

Two clowns were reportedly seen in Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage on Friday night and others in Great Ashby.

A furious woman is said to have chased a clown in Letchworth, and there were reportedly sightings of clowns outside two Stevenage secondary schools on Friday.

The mother of a young child said: “The poor little mite has been scared to go to the park or anywhere near the woods and I’ve just had to stand guard outside the bathroom so one didn’t get in. He has the most vivid imagination, bless him.”

A Facebook page ‘Stevenage Clown Hunters’ has been set up and police are warning that participating in the ‘killer clown’ craze could result in a criminal record.

Chief Inspector Gerry McDonald said: “Although the people dressing up as clowns may think they are taking part in some harmless fun, they should be aware that any behaviour that causes another person alarm or distress could lead to them being arrested.

“We want people to enjoy themselves as we approach Halloween, but not at the expense of others.”

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said: “The force has received reports from across the county of people dressed as clowns acting in an intimidating manner, which could lead to public order offences, arrests and a criminal record.

“This type of behaviour is also taking up valuable police resources, which could impact on calls to life-or-death emergencies.”

Call 101 to report suspicious clown sightings to police.